Lappist

Lappist is a rarely used term that has appeared in some older English-language sources to refer to a person who studies, writes about, or is fascinated by the Lapps, a historical exonym for the Sámi people, or by Lapland more generally. The word is formed from the root Lapp (from the exonym Lapp) with the agent suffix -ist. Because the exonym Lapp is now considered outdated or offensive by many Sámi people, the term lappist is not common in modern discourse and may be encountered mainly in historical texts or discussions about terminology.

The intended scope of a lappist is not standardized. It could denote an academic with an interest in Sámi culture, a collector of Lapland-related artifacts, or a general enthusiast of Lapland. There is no formal designation or widely accepted criteria for being called a lappist, and its usage can be ambiguous.

In contemporary usage, more precise and respectful terms are preferred. For someone with expertise in Sámi culture or Lapland, descriptors such as Sámi studies scholar, Sámi cultural scholar, or Sámi enthusiast are recommended. When discussing academic or historical topics, terms like researcher of Sámi culture or scholar of Sámi studies provide clearer and non-pejorative alternatives.

See also: Sámi people, Lapland, Lapp (term), Sámi languages, Sámi studies.