artisan
Americannoun
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a person skilled in a utilitarian art, trade, or craft, especially one requiring manual skill; a craftsperson.
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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.
adjective
noun
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a skilled workman; craftsman
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obsolete an artist
Synonym Usage
See artist.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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:
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.
Vocabulary lists containing artisan
Mesopotamia - Introductory
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Ancient Egypt and Kush, Lessons 1–3
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Medieval Europe - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Artisan Gianluca Galli was seen kneeling before the mosaic, working to cut new pieces of stone by hand as curious onlookers gathered around him.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
Brian Louko, portfolio manager for the Artisan Partners Global Special Situations Strategy fund, recommended Montana Aerospace, a Switzerland-based parts supplier for aircraft manufacturers.
From Barron's • Mar. 19, 2026
Artisan Partners, BlackRock and the Qatar Investment Authority bought €900 million worth of stock, the company said.
From MarketWatch • Jan. 23, 2026
“Across the region, AMC locations regularly offer a diverse film slate that spans major studio releases, independent titles, and AMC Artisan Films.”
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 10, 2026
The article already quoted from the Artisan asserts with perfect truth, that lung diseases must be the inevitable consequence of such conditions, and that, indeed, cases of this kind are disproportionately frequent in this class.
From The Condition of the Working-Class in England in 1844 with a Preface written in 1892 by Kelley, Florence
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
