epidemiologist

UK: ˌepɪˌdiːmiˈɒlədʒɪst | US: ˌepɪˌdiːmiˈɑːlədʒɪst

Definition

  1. n. a specialist who studies the patterns, causes, and effects of health and disease conditions in populations.

Structure
epi <upon>dem <people>iologist <one who studies>
Etymology

The word "epidemiologist" traces back to Greek roots:

  • "epi-" (upon) + "demos" (people) originally referred to diseases affecting populations ("epidemic").
  • The suffix "-ologist" (from Greek "-logos," meaning "study of") denotes a specialist.
    The term evolved from "epidemic" (disease upon people) to "epidemiology" (study of disease patterns) and finally to "epidemiologist" (the scientist conducting such studies). The morphemes reflect a logical progression from geographic spread to scientific analysis.
Examples

  1. The epidemiologist traced the outbreak to contaminated water sources.

  2. As an epidemiologist, she analyzes data to predict flu trends.

  3. The team consulted an epidemiologist to design the vaccination strategy.

  4. Epidemiologists play a key role in public health policymaking.

  5. His research as an epidemiologist helped contain the virus.