essayist

noun

es·​say·​ist ˈe-ˌsā-ist How to pronounce essayist (audio)
: a writer of essays

Examples of essayist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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For more than three decades, Iyer, an essayist and a novelist, has spent several weeks a year at a silent retreat in a monastery in Big Sur, California. The New Yorker, 6 Jan. 2025 James, written by author and professor Percival Everett and narrated by Dominic Hoffman took home the award for Best Literary Fiction & Classics, while There's Always This Year written and narrated by poet and essayist Hanif Abdurraqib took home Best Non-Fiction. Kimberlee Speakman, People.com, 5 Mar. 2025 More than a decade later, there’s still an essayist’s economy in Hunter’s writing. Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 28 Feb. 2025 Born in London in 1882, Milne was a prolific humorist, editor, essayist and playwright. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for essayist

Word History

First Known Use

1601, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of essayist was in 1601

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Cite this Entry

“Essayist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/essayist. Accessed 9 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

essayist

noun
es·​say·​ist ˈes-ˌā-əst How to pronounce essayist (audio)
: a writer of essays

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