noun
Shintoist; Shinto practitioner; Shinto scholar
Refers to a person who practices, studies, or is an expert in Shinto. Can be used for both lay practitioners and academic scholars.
彼は熱心な神道家で、毎朝神社に参拝している。
He is a devout Shintoist and visits the shrine every morning.
その神道家は神道の歴史について詳しい。
That Shinto scholar is knowledgeable about the history of Shinto.
神主 is a Shinto priest who serves at a specific shrine, whereas 神道家 is a broader term for any Shinto practitioner or scholar.
Compound of 神道 (Shinto) + 家 (-ist, -er, expert). The suffix 家 denotes a person engaged in a particular field or activity.