aesthetics

Or es·thet·ics

[es-thet-iks, ees-]

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.

aesthetics

/ 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

aesthetics

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.

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of aesthetics¹

First recorded in 1815–25; aesthetic, -ics

Word History and Origins

Origin of aesthetics¹

C18: from Greek aisthētikos perceptible by the senses, from aisthesthai to perceive

Example Sentences

But the truth is that, for anyone who isn’t already immersed in the aesthetics of the megachurch world, the whole event was unsettling.

From Salon

But experts say emphasis on their handwriting is not about aesthetics or convenience but a medical prescription that leaves room for ambiguity or misinterpretation can have serious - even tragic - consequences.

From BBC

Secret recording captured transactions from high-street clinics to online sellers, revealing how unsafe and illegal practices have spread across England's booming aesthetics market.

From BBC

The sacrifice of aesthetics is the price of security.

From BBC

The store, Mac says, “can be a lot of different aesthetics, but they really all kind of tell the same story.”

From Los Angeles Times