Plural of essayist; people who write essays, especially as their profession or main literary form.
From essay + -ist (Greek -istes meaning 'one who practices or is concerned with'). An essayist is literally 'one who essays' or attempts to explore ideas in writing.
Famous essayists like Michel de Montaigne actually invented the form—his book of 'attempts' (essais in French) at exploring ideas became the template for English essays!
Plural of 'essayist' inherits the historical male-default assumption, though modern usage treats it as gender-neutral.
Use 'essayists' as the standard inclusive plural for all genders. This is now the default.
Women essayists across traditions—from Rebecca Solnit to Maggie Nelson to postcolonial and Indigenous writers—have recently reclaimed visibility in essay canons, reversing centuries of exclusion.
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.