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.

---

adjective

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

   artisan beer.

artisan British  

/ ˈɑːtɪˌzæn, ˌɑːtɪˈzæn /

noun

1. a skilled workman; craftsman

2. obsolete an artist

---

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

Heading into the fall, she’s scheduled to sell her wares at over a dozen artisan markets.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026

Scientists have identified the bacteria that help give three British artisan cheeses their distinctive flavors, and some of those microbes may also have potential benefits for human health.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 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

At one point, he introduces us to a late-medieval artisan, Johann Gensfleisch, whom he calls Johann and whom others—including the reader—would call Gutenberg.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026

He was no nobleman, belonging to any aristocracy, no artisan belonging to any guild and finding refuge in it, sharing its life and language.

From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse

We watched candle-dipping artisans at work with wide eyes, heard the screaming whistle of the authentic steam locomotive train, and perused each room of the Dolly Parton Experience museum with glee.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 26, 2026

Watch how neon signs that once lighted up cities are slowly going away as remaining artisans fight to keep the tradition alive.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

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

The litany hails him as the renowned offspring of David, who handed Christ a king’s lineage and a contested throne, and calls him the terror of demons and the model of artisans.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 18, 2026

Mr. Lapham had told him to stand about and watch the different artisans at their trades until he was sure it was work he could do.

From "Johnny Tremain" by Esther Hoskins Forbes

Related Words

• builder
• carpenter
• craftsman
• professional