Showing Results for "aesthetics"

See Also:

• plural of aesthetic.

aesthetics

American  

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

Or esthetics

noun

(used with a singular verb)

aesthetics plural

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

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• aesthetics
  plural

Etymology

Origin of aesthetics

First recorded in 1815–25; see origin at aesthetic, -ics

Explanation

Aesthetics is the study of beauty. That might sound funny, but any interior designer or art gallery patron has a thing or two to say about aesthetics. The philosopher, Alexander Baumgarten, gave us our current meaning of aesthetics. In the mid-1700s, he used the word to describe artistic beauty with the added bonus of a value judgment of good or bad taste. The public embraced Baumgarten's usage, and fashion mavens and art critics got a new word to describe the marriage of beauty and taste.

Example Sentences

Aesthetics aside, I wish the charging port was not hidden in the left-side cove.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 30, 2026

She grows animated referencing Practical Aesthetics, the acting technique developed by David Mamet and William H. Macy for the Atlantic Theater Company, and detailing her fondness for in-depth script analysis.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 29, 2025

The owner of Hannah Louise Aesthetics posted a picture of a certificate similar to the one received by the BBC reporter.

From BBC • Oct. 28, 2025

This also happens to be the message of Dee’s new memoir and exposé, “Medspa Mayhem: The Good, The Bad and the Ugly, Secrets of the Aesthetics Industry,” coming out in June.

From Seattle Times • Jun. 7, 2024

Aesthetics is, strictly speaking, a branch of philosophy which has occupied thinkers from Plato to the present day.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson