maven

/ˈmeɪvən/

Other forms: mavens

Whether it's in fashion, or food, or forensic science, someone who really knows his stuff about a topic is a maven, or a person particularly skilled in the field.

The word maven comes from the Yiddish meyvn, meaning "one who understands." But to be a maven you have to more than just understand a topic, you have to know its ins and outs. Often mavens are the people that you turn to as experts in a field. You don't become a maven overnight. That kind of expertise comes with an accumulation of knowledge over the years.

Definitions of maven

1. noun

   someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
   synonyms: ace, adept, champion, genius, hotshot, mavin, sensation, star, superhero, superstar, virtuoso, whiz, whizz, wiz, wizard

   types:

   track star

   a star runner

   type of:

   expert, pundit

   a person with special knowledge or ability who performs skillfully