Noam ChomskyChom·sky, No·am /ˈtʃɒmski $ ˈtʃɑː-, ˈnəʊəm $ nəʊm/ (1928–) a US linguist whose many new ideas about language have had a great influence on the study of language. One of his important ideas is that everyone has knowledge about grammar when they are born, which they can then use to learn any language. He has also written books about politics, and has often criticized the way the US uses its power.