naturalist Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an advocate of the doctrine that the world can be understood in scientific terms
  2. noun a biologist knowledgeable about natural history (especially botany and zoology)
    natural scientist.

WordNet

Nat"u*ral*ist noun
Etymology
Cf. F. naturaliste.
Definitions
  1. One versed in natural science; a student of natural history, esp. of the natural history of animals.
  2. One who holds or maintains the doctrine of naturalism in religion. H. Bushnell.

Webster 1913