dilettante

[ dil-i-tahnt, dil-i-tahnt, -tahn-tey, -tan-tee ]

noun

, plural dil·et·tantes, dil·et·tan·ti [dil, -i-, tahn, -tee].

1. a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler.

   Synonyms: amateur

2. a lover of an art or science, especially of a fine art.

adjective

1. of or relating to dilettantes.

dilettante

/ ˌdɪlɪˈtɑːntɪ /

noun

1. a person whose interest in a subject is superficial rather than professional
2. a person who loves the arts

adjective

1. of or characteristic of a dilettante

dilettante

1. Someone who is interested in the fine arts as a spectator, not as a serious practitioner. Dilettante is most often used to mean a dabbler, someone with a broad but shallow attachment to any field.

Derived Forms

• ˌdiletˈtantism, noun
• ˌdiletˈtantish, adjective

Other Words From

• dilet·tantish dilet·tante·ish adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of dilettante¹

1725–35; < Italian, noun use of present participle of dilettare < Latin dēlectāre to delight

Word History and Origins

Origin of dilettante¹

C18: from Italian, from dilettare to delight, from Latin dēlectāre

Example Sentences

The fired host unloads on Current TV, accusing Al Gore of being a dilettante and co-owner Joel Hyatt of blackmail.

From The Daily Beast

But the director publicly clashed with Norton (calling him a “narcissistic dilettante”).

From The Daily Beast

He fully admits his chronicle of Galliano's shows from 2004 to 2010 was “the work of a dilettante.”

From The Daily Beast

I finally feel like I can call myself a writer now, rather than writing being just something I do on the side, as a dilettante.

From The Daily Beast

This deficiency in technique must even debar him from claiming any higher signification than that of a clever dilettante.

From Project Gutenberg

He had dropped in in a dilettante spirit to hear the spirited debate, and the judges were greatly honored.

From Project Gutenberg

With increase of reading we have fallen into a fireside, dilettante culture of ideas as an intellectual pleasure.

From Project Gutenberg

Do not suspect that I impose on you the task of writing letters to answer my dilettante questions.

From Project Gutenberg

I believe this to be the test to distinguish the mere dilettante from the artist of real genius.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• connoisseur