paleontologist

UK: /ˌp/+ɒe/liɒnˈtɒlədʒɪst/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

pa•le•on•tol•o•gy /ˌpeɪliənˈtɑlədʒi/   n. [uncountable]

1. Paleontology the science that deals with the forms of life existing long ago, as represented by their fossils.

pa•le•on•tol•o•gist, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

pa•le•on•tol•o•gy  (pā′lē ən tol′ə jē or, esp. Brit., pal′ē-), n., pl. -gies  for 2.

1. Paleontology the science of the forms of life existing in former geologic periods, as represented by their fossils.
2. a treatise on paleontology.

• French paléontologie. See pale- ontology
• 1830–40;

pa•le•on•to•log•ic  (pā′lē on′tl oj′ik or, esp. Brit., pal′ē-), pa′le•on′to•log′i•cal, adj.  pa′le•on′to•log′i•cal•ly, adv. 
pa′le•on•tol′o•gist, n.