art form

American  

noun

1. the more or less established structure, pattern, or scheme followed in shaping an artistic work.

   The sonata, the sonnet, and the novel are all art forms.

2. a medium for artistic expression.

   ballet, sculpture, opera, and other art forms.

3. a medium other than the artistic regarded as having highly developed or systematized rules, procedures, or formulations.

   international diplomacy regarded as an art form.

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art form British  

noun

1. a conventionally established form of artistic composition, such as the symphony or the sonnet

2. a recognized medium of artistic expression

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Etymology

Origin of art form

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

After elevating custom couture to an art form, just the word “content” sounds like a demotion.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 29, 2026

Joshua fused the pieces together, following an ancient Japanese art form of repairing broken pottery.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

"Opera has the potential to be a valid, living, contemporary art form which draws upon so many other different types of art, design, action, other types of music, different types of performance," said Thomas.

From BBC • Apr. 18, 2026

Comedian Carly Smallman said art form recognition for comedy would open up support routes available to other creative industries.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

He wanted to give a lecture on his new art form but by this time the formality was broken.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck