seismologist

American

[sahyz-mol-uh-jist, sahys-] / saɪzˈmɒl ə dʒɪst, saɪs- /

noun

a scientist who specializes in the study of earthquakes.

By studying core samples taken from the ocean floor, seismologists can predict the likelihood of a major quake occurring on this fault line.

Etymology

Origin of seismologist

First recorded in 1855–60; seismolog(y) ( def. ) + -ist ( def. )

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And a new graben—the seismologists used the German word meaning “ditch”—had formed.

From Literature

"Just like seismologists use earthquakes to study Earth's interior, we can use stellar oscillations to understand what's happening inside distant stars," said IfA research scientist Daniel Hey, lead author of the study.

From Science Daily

Only afterward, once the Big One has come and gone, can seismologists go back and see the pattern that led up to it.

From Literature

A shallow magnitude-6.5 earthquake struck off the coast of the French overseas territory of Guadeloupe, US seismologists said, with no damages or injuries immediately reported by authorities.

From Barron's

Another issue, as documented by seismologist Lucy Jones in her book “The Big Ones,” was the reluctance of some people to evacuate.

From Los Angeles Times

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023