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

Yau Meng-Jia’s photos of master puppeteer Huang Hai-Dai capture a dying artform whose performer is nevertheless vibrantly animated.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 13, 2026

Authorities have in recent years attempted to revive the artform through festivals and the creation of the Libyan Film Institute in 2021.

From Barron's • Jan. 16, 2026

Artist Bill Viola, whose pioneering work with video since the 1970s opened the door to what would become a major artform internationally, has died.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 16, 2024

Handling hecklers lobbing insults while cloaked in darkness is an artform.

From Salon • May 24, 2024

The agreement will allow them to "continue the Foundation's commitment to finding innovative ways to extend learning and participation, and serve and grow global audiences for the artform", they said.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2024