artisan

American  

[ahr-tuh-zuhn] / ˈɑr tə zən /

noun

artisans plural

1. a person skilled in a utilitarian art, trade, or craft, especially one requiring manual skill; a craftsperson.

2. a person or company that makes a high-quality or distinctive product in small quantities, usually by hand or using traditional methods.

   our favorite local food artisans.

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adjective

1. pertaining to an artisan or the product of an artisan; artisanal.

   artisan beer.

artisan British  

/ ɑːˈtɪzənəl, ˈɑːtɪˌzæn, ˈɑːtɪzənəl, ˌɑːtɪˈzæn /

noun

1. a skilled workman; craftsman

2. obsolete an artist

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Synonym Usage

See artist.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• artisanship
  noun
• artisanal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• artisans
  plural

Etymology

Origin of artisan

First recorded in 1530–40; from French, from Italian artigiano, equivalent to Latin artīt(us) “trained in arts and crafts” (past participle of artīre ) + Italian -iano (from Latin -iānus ); see art ¹, -ite ², -ian

Compare meaning

How does artisan compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• artisan vs. artesian

Explanation

An artisan has both the creativity and the skill to make a product. Wandering around a local craft fair, you will often see artisans selling handicrafts like pot holders or beaded jewelry. In medieval times, blacksmiths, carpenters, and masons were artisan trades. Unskilled laborers were not. The hierarchy of skill and prestige among artisans, from apprentice to journeyman to master, is sometimes reflected in ranks among today’s trade union members. But today an artisan can just be someone who makes attractive and creative work with their hands, like jewelry or pottery. Although, if they're trying to sell their goods, it probably helps if they're very skilled.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

artisan artisans

The technique has only survived through private collectors and artisan printers like Nick Hand, who runs the Department of Small Works in Bristol.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

The 19-year-old college student compares herself to an apprentice learning from a master artisan.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026

Three Iranian men pressed rehydrated raisins at an artisan distillery just outside New York, thousands of miles from their war-struck homeland.

From Barron's ● May 2, 2026

He talks about a trip he took one summer to the French Alps doing research with artisan cheese makers.

From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2026

Johnny found one does not step into a great merchant’s counting house and see the merchant as easily as one steps into a shop and sees the master artisan.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

The origins of the tapestry remain shrouded in mystery, with many scholars believing it was made by artisans in or around Canterbury in southern England.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

As a result, authentic sea silk has become extraordinarily rare and is produced only in tiny amounts by a small number of artisans.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 12, 2026

It also included headlines from articles regarding the Naupan artisans who were allegedly underpaid by Adidas and social-impact brand Someone Somewhere, during its work on the latest embroidered Mexican soccer kit.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 8, 2026

Craftsman’s Valley features booths where artisans show off such skills as blacksmithing or glassblowing, and the Grist Mill churns out loaves of the park’s famed cinnamon bread.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 30, 2026

I admire the intricate tiled ceilings and imagine artisans working together to create them.

From "Amina's Song" by Hena Khan

Related Words

• builder
• carpenter
• craftsman
• professional