Meaning & Definition of word "Archivist"

Archivist

ˈär-kə-ˌvist

noun:

  • 1. A person responsible for preserving, organizing, and managing collections of documents, records, and historical materials in an archive.
    • Example: The archivist carefully cataloged the newly donated photographs to ensure their preservation.
  • 2. A professional who specializes in the appraisal, acquisition, and management of archival materials.
    • Example: As an archivist, she worked diligently to maintain the integrity of the historical records.
  • 3. An individual who engages in archival research to provide historical context and information.
    • Example: The historian consulted with the archivist to access rare manuscripts for her research.

Etymology

Derived from 'archive' + 'ist', where 'archive' comes from the Greek 'arkheion', meaning 'public records'.

Common Phrases and Expressions

digital archivist:

A professional who specializes in the preservation and access of digital records.

institutional archivist:

An archivist who works within a specific organization or institution to manage its records.

Related Words

archive:

A collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people.

preservation:

The act of maintaining or protecting something, particularly historical documents.

cataloging:

The process of creating a catalog for the systematic organization of materials.

Slang Meanings of archivist

Meaning: Memory keeper

Example Sentence: He’s the memory keeper of the organization, always ready to pull out old files when needed.

Meaning: Data hoarder

Example Sentence: She's known as the data hoarder among her friends, always having access to every archived document.