1. a scientist who studies the characteristics, customs, and cultures of different ethnic groups and peoples
Usage: academic discipline; often used in anthropology and social sciences

Examples

• The ethnologist spent years researching the traditions of indigenous communities in South America.
• As an ethnologist, Dr. Chen examines how different cultures celebrate important life events.
• Ethnologists use fieldwork and interviews to understand social structures and belief systems.
• The museum hired an ethnologist to curate exhibits about world cultures.
• Modern ethnologists often collaborate with members of the communities they study.
• Her work as an ethnologist has contributed to our understanding of migration patterns across continents.