SKIP TO CONTENT

seismologist

/ˌsɑɪzˈmɑləʤəst/
IPA guide

Other forms: seismologists

A scientist who studies earthquakes is called a seismologist. If you're fascinated by tectonic plates, tsunamis, and everything else earthquake-related, you might want to become a seismologist.

A seismologist is an expert in seismology, or the study of earthquakes. Both words are rooted in the Greek seismos, or "a shaking," and seismologists study the factors that lead to the extreme shaking caused by quakes. These scientists also investigate related events, like volcanic eruptions, connected with movements of the earth's crust and shifting tectonic plates, and predict when and where future earthquakes will occur.

Definitions of seismologist
  1. noun
    a geophysicist who studies earthquakes and the mechanical characteristics of the Earth
    see moresee less
    type of:
    geophysicist
    a geologist who uses physical principles to study the properties of the earth
Cite this entry
Style:
MLA
  • MLA
  • APA
  • Chicago

Copy citation
DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘seismologist'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family