artisan

American  

[ahr-tuh-zuhn] / ˈɑr tə zən /

noun

• artisans
  plural

1. a person skilled in a utilitarian art, trade, or craft, especially one requiring manual skill; a craftsperson.

2. a person or company that makes a high-quality or distinctive product in small quantities, usually by hand or using traditional methods.

   our favorite local food artisans.

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adjective

1. pertaining to an artisan or the product of an artisan; artisanal.

   artisan beer.

artisan British  

/ ɑːˈtɪzənəl, ˈɑːtɪˌzæn, ˈɑːtɪzənəl, ˌɑːtɪˈzæn /

noun

1. a skilled workman; craftsman

2. obsolete an artist

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Synonym Usage

See artist.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• artisanship
  noun
• artisanal
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• artisans
  plural

Etymology

Origin of artisan

First recorded in 1530–40; from French, from Italian artigiano, equivalent to Latin artīt(us) “trained in arts and crafts” (past participle of artīre ) + Italian -iano (from Latin -iānus ); see art ¹, -ite ², -ian

Compare meaning

How does artisan compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• artisan vs. artesian

Explanation

An artisan has both the creativity and the skill to make a product. Wandering around a local craft fair, you will often see artisans selling handicrafts like pot holders or beaded jewelry. In medieval times, blacksmiths, carpenters, and masons were artisan trades. Unskilled laborers were not. The hierarchy of skill and prestige among artisans, from apprentice to journeyman to master, is sometimes reflected in ranks among today’s trade union members. But today an artisan can just be someone who makes attractive and creative work with their hands, like jewelry or pottery. Although, if they're trying to sell their goods, it probably helps if they're very skilled.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

artisan artisans

Scientists have identified the bacteria that help give three British artisan cheeses their distinctive flavors, and some of those microbes may also have potential benefits for human health.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 17, 2026

Sadi Tribak, a 38-year-old artisan from Tangier, drove to Fnideq with his children as soon as he heard the rumours about the open border.

From Barron's ● Aug. 1, 2026

At one point, he introduces us to a late-medieval artisan, Johann Gensfleisch, whom he calls Johann and whom others—including the reader—would call Gutenberg.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 25, 2026

His own seed and nut farm - which had managed to stay open during bushfires and the pandemic - couldn't afford keep its usually popular artisan shop open, even at the weekend.

From BBC ● Feb. 25, 2026

He was only an honest and kindly artisan, just now saddened by treachery.

From "The Golden Goblet" by Eloise Jarvis McGraw

As they craft, artisans chant aloud the design code handwritten on a strip of paper known as talim -- shorthand of ancient symbols for numbers and colours -- knotting the threads string by string.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

Masterpieces woven from mulberry silk or pure sheep wool by artisans have adorned imperial courts, museums and luxury homes across the world over the centuries.

From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026

Neon signs that once lighted up cities are slowly going away as remaining artisans fight to preserve the tradition.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026

The route also brought artisans, laborers and slaves to the Spanish colony.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 24, 2026

Those who think that modern science derives from the empirical experimental enquiries of craftsmen and artisans need to account for the extraordinarily slow evolution of water-wheel technology prior to the introduction of Smeaton’s scientific method.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

Related Words

• builder
• carpenter
• craftsman
• professional