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doyen

noun
doy·​en | \ ˈdȯi-ən How to pronounce doyen (audio) , -ˌ(y)en; ˈdwä-ˌyaⁿ(n) How to pronounce doyen (audio) \

Definition of doyen

1a : the senior member of a body or group
b : a person considered to be knowledgeable or uniquely skilled as a result of long experience in some field of endeavor
2 : the oldest example of a category
Synonyms & Antonyms Did You Know? Example Sentences Learn More about doyen

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Did You Know?

English picked up "doyen" from French in the 17th century. The French term in turn comes from the Late Latin word decanus, which itself comes from the Greek dekanos, meaning "chief of ten." A "doyen" can be a leader of a group, such as a diplomatic corps. In this regard, the word has been used to refer to someone who is specifically or tacitly allowed to speak for that group. More broadly, a "doyen" refers to a highly skilled and respected veteran of a particular field. The feminine form of "doyen" is "doyenne."

Examples of doyen in a Sentence

He is considered the doyen of political journalists. considered the doyen of American art critics

Recent Examples on the Web

 This is Eisenberg, after all, the doyen of the flinch and the frown. — Anthony Lane, The New Yorker, "“The Farewell” Mixes Mourning and Revelry," 12 July 2019 Flash forward to 2019, and the current doyen of the family business, Ben, has made his triumphant return to the chi-chi vacation spot. — Roxanne Adamiyatt, Town & Country, "A Heritage Fragrance House Finds a New Home in Tony Palm Beach," 6 May 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'doyen.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of doyen

1670, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

History and Etymology for doyen

French, from Old French deien, from Late Latin decanus dean — more at dean

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More Definitions for doyen

doyen

noun
How to pronounce doyen (audio) How to pronounce doyen (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of doyen

formal : a person who has a lot of experience in or knowledge about a particular profession, subject, etc.

See the full definition for doyen in the English Language Learners Dictionary

More from Merriam-Webster on doyen

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with doyen

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for doyen

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about doyen

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