aesthetic

American  

[es-thet-ik, ees-] / ɛsˈθɛt ɪk, is- /

Or esthetic

adjective

1. relating to the philosophy of aesthetics; concerned with notions such as the beautiful and the ugly.

2. relating to the science of aesthetics; concerned with the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.

3. having a sense of the beautiful; characterized by a love of beauty.

   Synonyms:

   refined, cultivated, discriminating

4. relating to, involving, or concerned with pure emotion and sensation as opposed to pure intellectuality.

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noun

1. the philosophical theory or set of principles governing the idea of beauty at a given time and place.

   the clean lines, bare surfaces, and sense of space that bespeak the machine-age aesthetic;

   the Cubist aesthetic.

2. a particular individual’s set of ideas about style and taste, along with its expression.

   the designer’s aesthetic of accessible, wearable fashion;

   a great aesthetic on her blog.

3. one’s set of principles or worldview as expressed through outward appearance, behavior, or actions.

   the democratic aesthetic of the abolitionists.

4. Archaic. the study of the nature of sensation.

aesthetic British  

/ ɪs-, iːsˈθɛtɪk /

adjective

1. connected with aesthetics or its principles

2. 1. relating to pure beauty rather than to other considerations

   2. artistic or relating to good taste

      an aesthetic consideration

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noun

1. a principle of taste or style adopted by a particular person, group, or culture

   the Bauhaus aesthetic of functional modernity

Usage

What else does aesthetic mean? Aesthetic concerns what is considered beautiful.In pop culture, an aesthetic refers to the overall style of someone or something, like a musical sound, interior design, or even a social-media presence.In the 2010s, the term became closely associated with vaporwave culture on Tumblr.

Other Word Forms

• aesthetically adverb
• nonaesthetic adjective
• pseudoaesthetic adjective

Etymology

Origin of aesthetic

First recorded in 1795–1800; from New Latin aesthēticus, from Greek aisthētikós “pertaining to sense perception, perceptible, sensitive,” equivalent to aisthēt(ḗs) ( aesthete ) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

"Our research shows that beauty in mathematics is not only an aesthetic notion, but something with structural depth and efficiency," says Professor Heinrich Begehr.

From Science Daily

"It's really nostalgic and cute. Like some 2000s cute aesthetic," she said, admitting that some people her age "just don't like it or think it's childish".

From Barron's

Unlike the other visual arts, photography nowadays is practiced by virtually everyone and, to a greater extent than the other visual arts, it is put to more uses than just aesthetic pleasure.

From The Wall Street Journal

Told baldness is generally seen as an aesthetic problem covered out-of-pocket, Lee retorted that young people with thinning hair view their plight as a “matter of survival.”

From The Wall Street Journal

He seems intent on erasing the aesthetic symbolism and history of Camelot altogether.

From Salon

Related Words

• artistic
• creative