# Hellenist

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈhɛl.ɪ.nɪst/

## Definitions
1. A specialist in the study of Greek language, literature, culture, or history, or an admirer of the Greek culture and civilization.
2. A person who adopted the Greek customs, language and culture during the Hellenistic period, especially a Hellenized Jew.
3. A non-Greek follower and practitioner of Hellenic religion (aka Hellenism)

## Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἑλληνιστής (hellēnistḗs, “somebody who speaks Greek”), from ἑλληνίζειν (hellēnízein, “to speak Greek, to behave like a Greek, to become Greek, hellenize”) (infinitive of ἑλληνίζω (hellēnízō)), from Ἕλλην (Héllēn, “Greek”).

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