'analyst' originates from French, specifically the word 'analyste', which comes from 'analyse', meaning 'analysis'. The root is from Greek 'analusis', where 'ana-' meant 'up' and 'lysis' meant 'a loosening'.

'analyste' in French was adopted into English as 'analyst' in the 17th century, and the plural form 'analysts' follows standard English pluralization.

Initially, it meant 'one who analyzes', and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage.