# chemist

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈkɛmɪst/ · frequency rank #14,718

## Definitions
1. A person who specializes in the science of chemistry, especially at a professional level.
2. Synonym of pharmacist.
3. Synonym of pharmacy, especially as a standalone shop or general store.
4. An alchemist.

## Etymology
Etymology tree
Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰew-
Proto-Indo-European *-mn̥
Ancient Greek -μᾰ (-mă)
Ancient Greek χῠ́μᾰ (khŭ́mă)
Proto-Indo-European *-h₂
Proto-Indo-European *-éh₂
Proto-Indo-European *-i-eh₂
Proto-Hellenic *-íā
Ancient Greek -ία (-ía)
Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā)bor.
Arabic الْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ)bor.
Medieval Latin alchēmia
▲
Ancient Greek χυμείᾱ (khumeíā)influ.
New Latin chimiabor.
Middle French chymie
French chimie
Proto-Indo-European *-id-
Proto-Indo-European *-yéti
Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti
Proto-Hellenic *-íďďō
Ancient Greek -ίζω (-ízō)
Proto-Hellenic *-tās
Ancient Greek -τής (-tḗs)
Ancient Greek -ιστής (-istḗs)der.
Latin -istabor.
French -iste
French chimistebor.
English chemist
First attested 1562, borrowed from French chimiste, from Medieval Latin chimista, from earlier alchimista (literally “alchemist”), from Arabic الْكِيمِيَاء (al-kīmiyāʔ), with article اَلْ (al-) + Ancient Greek χυμεία (khumeía, “art of alloying metals”), from χύμα (khúma, “fluid”), from χυμός (khumós, “juice”), from χέω (khéō, “I pour”). The pronunciation with initial /k/ is based on the Graeco-Latin etymology rather than on the French word, where the pronunciation with /ʃ/ is based on native French orthography.
As a synonym for pharmacy, a metonymous use of the proprietor to stand for their shop.

## Easily confused with
- **chest** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chemist-vs-chest)
- **Christ** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chemist-vs-christ)
- **cherish** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chemist-vs-cherish)
- **coexist** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chemist-vs-coexist)
- **chemistry** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/chemist-vs-chemistry)

## Common misspellings (11)
`cchemist`, `cehmist`, `cheimst`, `chemisst`, `chemistt`, `chemits`, `chemmist`, `chemsit`, `chhemist`, `chmeist`, `hcemist`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/chemist