journalist
JUR-nuh-lihst
Journalist (noun) means someone whose job is reporting on news and current events. Example: “The journalist interviewed dozens of witnesses for the story.”
noun
1
Someone whose job is reporting on news and current events.
"The journalist interviewed dozens of witnesses for the story."
"A freelance journalist pitched the article to three magazines."
"As a young journalist, she spent her evenings writing about local council meetings."
"In 2017, Katherine Maher, then the CEO of the WMF, re-imagined the nonprofit’s mission as “top-down social justice activism and advocacy,” as journalist Ashley Rindsberg described it."
— Larry Sanger, 4. Revive the original neutrality policy (2025)
How to use journalist
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA person who researches and writes news stories professionally.
Common pairings
a freelance journalist
award-winning journalist
a journalist covering the war
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like journalist.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- journalists
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ interviewed dozens of witnesses for the story.
Etymology
From journal + the agent suffix -ist, meaning "one who works with journals".
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for journalist
realist
vocalist
idealist
finalist
loyalist
medalist
socialist
herbalist
mentalist
capitalist
specialist
naturalist
See all rhymes for journalist →
Frequently asked questions
What does “journalist” mean?
The word “journalist” means someone whose job is reporting on news and current events. In plain terms, a person who researches and writes news stories professionally.
How do you pronounce “journalist”?
“Journalist” is pronounced JUR-nuh-lihst (/ˈd͡ʒɝnəlɪst/ in IPA).
How do you use “journalist” in a sentence?
Here is “journalist” used in a sentence: “The journalist interviewed dozens of witnesses for the story.”
What part of speech is “journalist”?
“Journalist” is a noun.
Is “journalist” a common word?
“Journalist” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a journalist and a reporter?
A reporter is someone who gathers and reports the news directly, often from the scene. Journalist is the broader term for anyone whose job is reporting on news and current events, which includes reporters as well as editors, columnists, and correspondents. Every reporter is a journalist, but not every journalist is a reporter.
What is the difference between a journalist and a correspondent?
A correspondent is a journalist assigned to report from a particular place or on a particular subject, such as a foreign correspondent or a political correspondent. Journalist is the general job title; correspondent describes a specific reporting role within it.
Is "journo" an acceptable word for a journalist?
Journo is an informal shortening of journalist, heard mainly in British and Australian English. It is fine in casual speech or headlines with a chatty tone, but in formal writing you should use journalist.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include journalist:
