ˈpəbləsə̇st noun
( -s )
Etymology: French publiciste, from public + -iste -ist
1.
a. : an expert in international law
judicial decisions of the most highly qualified publicists of the various nations — Basic Facts about the U.N.
b. : an expert or commentator on public affairs : political pundit
the self-constituted party of property owners, publicists, and professional men that framed the Federal Constitution — S.E.Morison & H.S.Commager
cocksure materialist at whom … contemporary publicists are wont to fling their dialectical brickbats — Aldous Huxley
2. : one that publicizes
effective publicist of the slum problem — J.G.Hill
task of the scientist as publicist to make sure that science is science, and not magic, to the public at large — Irwin Edman
specifically : press agent
something more lasting than a pretty face, attractive figure or a persuasive publicist — J.K.Newnham