Scientist

n.  A person having expert knowledge of one or more sciences, especially a natural or physical science.

The term scientist is a relatively new one. Prior to the early 20th century anyone who engaged in science was referred to as a “natural philosopher” or “man of science”.

William Whitwell (a philosopher and historian of science) first coined the term in 1833 when he was looking for an alternative to philosopher which he considered no longer satisfactory for grouping together those who pursued science.

In 1840 he wrote “We need very much a name to describe a cultivator of science in general. I should incline to call him a Scientist. Thus we might say, that as an Artist is a Musician, Painter, or Poet, a Scientist is a Mathematician, Physicist, or Naturalist.”

The term did not gain wide acceptance for decades and it took until the turn of the 20th century before it became a common term in Great Britain.


Scientist is an umbrella term which covers many fields, some include: