aesthetic
Americanadjective
-
relating to the philosophy of aesthetics; concerned with notions such as the beautiful and the ugly.
-
relating to the science of aesthetics; concerned with the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.
-
having a sense of the beautiful; characterized by a love of beauty.
- Synonyms:
- refined, cultivated, discriminating
-
relating to, involving, or concerned with pure emotion and sensation as opposed to pure intellectuality.
noun
-
aesthetics
plural
-
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.
-
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.
-
one’s set of principles or worldview as expressed through outward appearance, behavior, or actions.
the democratic aesthetic of the abolitionists.
-
Archaic. the study of the nature of sensation.
adjective
-
connected with aesthetics or its principles
-
-
relating to pure beauty rather than to other considerations
-
artistic or relating to good taste
an aesthetic consideration
-
noun
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
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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) ( see aesthete) + -ikos -ic
Explanation
The adjective aesthetic comes in handy when the subject at hand is beauty or the arts. A velvet painting of dogs playing poker might have minimal aesthetic appeal. Aesthetic, from a Greek word meaning "perception," comes to us from German philosophers who used it for a theory of the beautiful. From this technical sense, it soon came to refer to good taste and to artistry in general; if something has "aesthetic value," it has value as a work of art (even if nobody will pay much for it). It does not, however, refer to the objects themselves; do not talk about an "aesthetic painting."
Vocabulary lists containing aesthetic
100 SAT Words Beginning with "A"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
100 Top "SAT" Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
The Great Gatsby
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
See Examples For:
The primary bathroom boasts a marble soaking tub, following the home’s elegant aesthetic.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
Her floral, flowing clothes and romantic aesthetic are not things she feels compelled to shed in order to be taken seriously as a chef.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
Our critic raved that “beyond a purely aesthetic consideration, the exhibition is an engrossing seminar on every aspect of tarot.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026
They have told the BBC the demand for this procedure, which normally costs thousands of pounds in the UK, has increased as part of a wider aesthetic trend to tighten, smooth and lift the face.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2026
Architecture’s parameters are defined by utilitarian function and structural system, but there is almost always an aesthetic component as well, even when it consists of nothing more than a decorative veneer.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
For women working in food, though, that question of authorship extends beyond aesthetics.
From Salon ● Sep. 27, 2026
Robin Wigglesworth on the epic history of bonds, the state of the bond market, and the aesthetics of debt.
From Slate ● Sep. 26, 2026
Following World War II, a wave of Japanese migration to the region, especially to Brazil, introduced East Asian aesthetics into local art scenes, and the new arrivals began drawing from their new environs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 25, 2026
She tells the BBC: "We're going to be having a messy girl summer" and says "it's a reaction to the clean girl and quite luxury aesthetics that took over our Instagram feeds," last year.
From BBC ● Sep. 21, 2026
Like that of the Babylonians, the Pythagorean universe seems more a construction based on mysticism and aesthetics than the result of empirical study.
From "Circumference" by Nicholas Nicastro
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.
