paleontologist

C1 Topic:Word Formation & Derivatives

Also spelled palaeontologist and palaeontologists

US /ˌpeɪ.li.ənˈtɑː.lə.dʒɪst/ UK /ˌpæl.i.ɒnˈtɒl.ə.dʒɪst/ See IPA manual

Freq #53664

Meanings

1

noun
a scientist who studies fossils and life from past geological periods

The paleontologist compared the fossil teeth with those of living reptiles.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a scientist who studies... palaeontologistfossil scientistfossilist

Word family

Related forms paleontology fossil geology evolution

Etymology

Formed from paleontology + -ist. Paleontology combines Greek palaios ("ancient"), on, genitive ontos ("being, creature"), and -logy ("study"). Palaeontologist is the standard British spelling; paleontologist is the usual American form.

Topics

Word Formation & Derivatives General Vocabulary

External links

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