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

See Examples For:

art form

I would say self-evidently, it’s the most powerful, popular art form.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

John’s grandfather, an organist, impresses upon his pupil that music will only torment him if he thinks of it as an art form to be perfected; he must instead treat it as a “commodity.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026

And despite its inherent coolness, the music and culture is a very studious art form.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 28, 2026

But to say that no filmmakers are working in mainstream, high-flying, big-budget action with real artistic value negates the principle of filmmaking as an art form.

From Salon ● Sep. 23, 2026

Molly was out, which was probably for the best, because Molly took stubborn to an art form and could not be convinced to trust Boaz.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny