Meaning & use
meteorologist
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A scientist who studies the atmosphere and weather, often to predict future weather conditions.
Grammar: Countable; use 'a meteorologist' or 'meteorologists'.
Patterns
- a meteorologist predicts something
- a meteorologist studies something
- work as a meteorologist
The meteorologist on the evening news said it would rain tomorrow.
She became a meteorologist after studying physics and atmospheric science.
Meteorologists use computer models to forecast storms.
Word forms
| plural | meteorologists |
|---|
Common combinations
- chief meteorologist
- The chief meteorologist announced a severe weather warning.
- meteorologist forecast
- The meteorologist forecast snow for the weekend.
- TV meteorologist
- The TV meteorologist explained the incoming hurricane.
- consult a meteorologist
- Farmers often consult a meteorologist before planting.
Synonyms and how they differ
- weather forecaster
- A broader term for anyone who predicts the weather, including those without formal scientific training.
Word family
- meteorology noun
- The scientific study of the atmosphere and weather.
- meteorological adjective
- Relating to the study of weather.
Commonly confused: meteorologist or climatologist?
meteorologist vs climatologist
A climatologist studies long-term climate patterns, while a meteorologist focuses on short-term weather and forecasting.
Practice
What is a meteorologist most likely to do?
Choose one answer.
A meteorologist studies the atmosphere and forecasts weather, so option 2 is correct. Option 1 describes an astronomer, option 3 an oceanographer, and option 4 a geologist.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “meteorologist”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.