Etymologically
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journalist

Etymology and origin of the English word journalist

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
1693
Borrowed from
French journaliste

Pronunciation

  • IPA: /ˈd͡ʒɜːnəlɪst/ (UK); /ˈd͡ʒɝnəlɪst/ (US)[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from French journaliste,[2] formed from journal and -ist.[2][3] See journalism.[4]

Earliest recorded meaning

A person who writes for or edits a newspaper or periodical: 1693 in the OED and MWU, the 1690s in Etymonline.[5][3][2]

Semantic evolution

A person who keeps a journal or diary is from 1712.[5][2] Journalier was also occasionally used.[2] The verb journalize, from the 1680s, usually means to enter something in a journal or account book.[2] A reporter for radio or television is now also a journalist.[4]

Timeline

  • 1693 – a writer for newspapers.[5]
  • 1712 – a keeper of a journal.[5]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person who writes or prepares news for newspapers, magazines, radio, television or websites.
  2. A person who keeps a journal or diary.

Word family

  • journalistic

References

  1. ^ Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  4. ^ a b Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Journalist.” Etymologically, 16 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/journalist. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·