artist

American  

[ahr-tist] / ˈɑr tɪst /

noun

1. a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.

2. a person who practices one of the fine arts, especially a painter or sculptor.

3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc..

   a commercial artist.

4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, as an actor, musician, or singer; a public performer.

   a mime artist; an artist of the dance.

5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.

6. a person who is expert at trickery or deceit.

   He's an artist with cards.

7. Obsolete. an artisan.

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artist British  

/ ˈɑːtɪst /

noun

1. a person who practises or is skilled in an art, esp painting, drawing, or sculpture

2. a person who displays in his work qualities required in art, such as sensibility and imagination

3. a person whose profession requires artistic expertise, esp a designer

   a commercial artist

4. a person skilled in some task or occupation

   an artist at bricklaying

5. obsolete an artisan

6. slang a person devoted to or proficient in something

   a booze artist

   a con artist

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Related Words

Artist, artisan, artiste are persons having superior skill or ability, or who are capable of producing superior work. An artist is a person engaged in some type of fine art. An artisan is engaged in a craft or applied art. An artiste is usually a skilled public performer.

Etymology

Origin of artist

First recorded in 1575–85; from Middle French artiste, from Medieval Latin artista “master of arts”; equivalent to art ¹ + -ist

Example Sentences

In addition to Boulez’s own contributions as performer, a host of other gifted artists appear, the bulk French.

From The Wall Street Journal

Today’s Nashville hitmakers collaborate with artists from the worlds of Christian music, Mexican regional and rap.

From The Wall Street Journal

I dropped to a low angle to create a fan’s perspective, capture the height of his leap and ensure both artists were in the frame.

From Los Angeles Times

But as I grow older, I realize there’s a difference between being a performer and being an artist.

From Los Angeles Times

Kenneth Clark dates this picture at about 1462-4, when the artist was in his 40s, and calls it “one of the supreme works of painting in the world.”

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• artisan
• composer
• expert
• inventor
• painter