aesthetic

or es·thet·ic

[ es-thet-ikor, especially British, ees- ]

adjective

1. relating to the philosophy of aesthetics; concerned with notions such as the beautiful and the ugly.
2. relating to the science of aesthetics; concerned with the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.
3. having a sense of the beautiful; characterized by a love of beauty.

   Synonyms: refined, cultivated, discriminating

4. relating to, involving, or concerned with pure emotion and sensation as opposed to pure intellectuality.

noun

1. 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.

2. 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.

3. one’s set of principles or worldview as expressed through outward appearance, behavior, or actions:

   the democratic aesthetic of the abolitionists.

4. Archaic. the study of the nature of sensation.

aesthetic

/ ɪs-; iːsˈθɛtɪk /

adjective

1. connected with aesthetics or its principles
2. 1. relating to pure beauty rather than to other considerations
   2. artistic or relating to good taste

      an aesthetic consideration

noun

1. a principle of taste or style adopted by a particular person, group, or culture

   the Bauhaus aesthetic of functional modernity

Derived Forms

• aesˈthetically, adverb

Other Words From

• nonaes·thetic adjective
• pseudo·aes·thetic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aesthetic¹

First recorded in 1795–1800; from New Latin aesthēticus, from Greek aisthētikós “pertaining to sense perception, perceptible, sensitive,” equivalent to aisthēt(ḗs) ( aesthete ) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

The high heel has gone through endless aesthetic changes throughout the years.

From The Daily Beast

So, the display—which has the aesthetic sophistication of a middle school science project—will go up for week.

From The Daily Beast

For aesthetic reasons, ski resort operators try to limit the noise and infrastructure associated with producing power.

From The Daily Beast

Umm…to me, pop music is more of a science term than an aesthetic.

From The Daily Beast

But the softness, the muted quality in turn became an aesthetic.

From The Daily Beast

Aesthetic considerations sometimes have great weight, especially in towns.

From Project Gutenberg

Thyrsis would cry, whenever these aesthetic impulses manifested themselves.

From Project Gutenberg

It is true that Christianity does not teach aesthetic culture, but it teaches the duties which prevent the eclipse of Art.

From Project Gutenberg

The denoument especially is unfortunate, and sins against our moral and aesthetic instinct.

From Project Gutenberg

It is probable, I think, that there is a point where the ascetic principle and the aesthetic become one and the same.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• artistic
• creative
• esthetic