encyclopaedist

An encyclopaedist is a person who writes, compiles, or edits an encyclopedia or other comprehensive reference work, aiming to present summarized knowledge on a wide range of topics in a systematic form. Encyclopaedists may be researchers, editors, or scholars who select topics, verify information, and write entries that explain concepts, persons, events, and places. The role can be historical or contemporary, and it often involves coordinating with a team of contributors and editors, assessing sources, and ensuring consistency of style and scope across the work.

The term derives from the Greek enkyklios paideia meaning a circular or general education, and is cognate with the modern term encyclopedist. Historically, notable encyclopaedists include the editors and contributors of the Encyclopédie in 18th-century France, such as Denis Diderot and Jean le Rond d'Alembert, whose project sought to present the state of human knowledge and to challenge received authority. Encyclopaedists have played a central role in the spread of Enlightenment ideas and in institutionalizing reference publishing.

Today the term is somewhat archaic; encyclopaedists may be researchers who contribute to encyclopedias, scholarly editors overseeing large reference projects, or authors of specialized compendia. With digital encyclopedias, the work often involves collaborative online editing, revisions, and fact-checking, rather than a single author.