aesthetics

American  

[es-thet-iks, ees-] / ɛsˈθɛt ɪks, is- /

Or esthetics

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. the branch of philosophy dealing with such notions as the beautiful, the ugly, the sublime, the comic, etc., as applicable to the fine arts, with a view to establishing the meaning and validity of critical judgments concerning works of art, and the principles underlying or justifying such judgments.

2. the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.

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aesthetics British  

/ iːsˈθɛtɪks, ɪs- /

noun

1. the branch of philosophy concerned with the study of such concepts as beauty, taste, etc

2. the study of the rules and principles of art

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aesthetics Cultural  

1. The branch of philosophy concerned with the nature of art and with judgments concerning beauty. “What is art?” and “What do we mean when we say something is beautiful?” are two questions often asked by aestheticians.

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Discover More

The term aesthete is sometimes used negatively to describe someone whose pursuit of beauty is excessive or appears phony.

Etymology

Origin of aesthetics

First recorded in 1815–25; aesthetic, -ics

Example Sentences

Modelled on USA Today, it revolutionised the aesthetics and layout of newspapers, and kicked off a cut-throat price war.

From BBC

"It reflects a cognitive shift tied to village life and a growing awareness of symmetry and aesthetics."

From Science Daily

You have grown so much since then, welcoming in new aesthetics, hairstyles and music production.

From Los Angeles Times

Aoibheann believes the appeal of traditional cameras runs deeper than aesthetics.

From BBC

Gioia’s purpose was to analyze “the new aesthetics of slop,” but what strikes me about his critique is its familiarity.

From Los Angeles Times