What does economist mean?
An economist is a person who studies, teaches, or professionally applies economics — the discipline concerned with how societies produce, distribute, and consume goods and services. Economists work in universities, governments, central banks, international organisations, and private industry, analysing data, building models, and advising on issues such as inflation, employment, trade, and growth. Some specialise in fields like labour, environmental, or behavioural economics. The word derives from the Greek oikonomos, meaning 'household manager', reflecting the discipline's early conception as the art of managing a household or state's resources. Today the term is neutral and professional in tone, typically implying formal training and expertise rather than mere interest in money or markets. Famously associated figures such as Adam Smith, John Maynard Keynes, and Milton Friedman have made 'economist' a word closely tied to public policy debate.
A specialist in or practitioner of economics, especially one engaged in research, teaching, or policy advice concerning economic activity.
"The government consulted several leading economists before revising its budget forecasts."
(Archaic) A person who manages a household or resources with thrift and economy.
"In earlier centuries, a good economist was praised for running a frugal and well-ordered household."
This historical sense is now largely obsolete outside literary contexts.
Standard regular plural; used both for multiple individuals and generically ('economists agree that...').
"Economists disagree about the long-term effects of the tax reform."
The word 'economist' traces back to Greek oikonomos — literally 'household manager' — because managing a state's wealth was once seen as managing a very large household.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of economist
The word economist comes from 'economy', which entered English via French from Latin oeconomia, itself borrowed from Greek oikonomia meaning 'household management' (oikos, 'house', plus nomos, 'managing'). The sense of one versed in economic science developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries alongside the rise of political economy as an academic field. Cognates include the French économiste and German Ökonom.
Related word forms
How economist is actually used
In modern usage 'economist' almost always denotes a professional or academic expert in economics and carries no connotation of thrift. The older sense of a frugal householder survives mainly in historical texts.
Easily confused with economist
An ecologist studies relationships between organisms and their environment, while an economist studies economies and the production and consumption of goods and services.