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

Within the queer performance scene, she said, drag kings have often received little recognition, fewer opportunities and less monetary gain despite contributing greatly to the art form and the LGBTQ+ community.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 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

An ACE spokesperson acknowledged the importance of live comedy, adding: "It is an art form which we are proud to support especially given the range of audiences it reaches."

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2026

But at the tail end of his monologue, O’Brien assured viewers that the Oscars exist to honor cinema as an art form, not for the Hollywood industrial complex patting itself on the back.

From Salon • Mar. 16, 2026

In Bull Meecham, the will to win transformed all games into a furious art form.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy