educationalist
|ed-u-ca-tion-al-ist|
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/ˌɛdʒəˈkeɪʃənəlɪst/
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/ˌɛdʒʊˈkeɪʃənəlɪst/
specialist in education
Etymology
'educationalist' originates from Modern English, specifically built from 'educational' + the suffix '-ist', where 'educational' derives from Latin 'educatio'/'educare' and 'educare' meant 'to rear, bring up' (related to Latin 'educere' 'to lead out').
'educationalist' changed from the earlier formation around the noun 'education' (Middle English 'educacioun' from Old French/Latin) and the adjective 'educational' and eventually took the agentive suffix '-ist' to form 'educationalist' in modern English.
Initially related to the act or process of 'bringing up' or 'rearing' (education); over time the root developed into the broader sense 'system/field of education', and later the derived form 'educationalist' came to mean 'a specialist or advocate in that field'.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a specialist in the theory and practice of education; someone who researches, teaches about, or advises on educational methods, curriculum, and policy.
She is a well-known educationalist who has written extensively on curriculum reform.
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Noun 2
a person (sometimes used critically) who emphasizes educational theory or particular methods and policies, possibly at the expense of practical classroom realities.
Critics described him as an educationalist out of touch with classroom realities.
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Last updated: 2025/10/26 03:10