The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 12 letter word PHILOSOPHERS
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Buddy explains!
The straight part
We know that "theorists" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case theorists = philosophers.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does PHILOSOPHERS mean?
PHILOSOPHERS noun- A lover of wisdom.
- A student of philosophy.
- A scholar or expert engaged in or contributing to philosophical inquiry.
- A person who applies the principles of philosophy to the conduct of their life, as by acting calmly and rationally in the face of inevitable change.
- A student, scholar, or expert in any branch of knowledge, especially those branches studied prior to being considered part of pure science.
- An alchemist.