arts

British  

/ ɑːts /

plural noun

1. 1. imaginative, creative, and nonscientific branches of knowledge considered collectively, esp as studied academically

   2. ( as modifier )

      an arts degree

2. See fine art

3. cunning or crafty actions or plots; schemes

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Explanation

The arts are subjects that you study in school which have some artistic or social aspect, rather than being purely practical or job-related. If you major in English and minor in music, you're studying the arts. University subjects and separate colleges — and often even the degrees they award — are sometimes divided into arts and sciences. The arts include things like dance and photography, but also subjects such as Latin or religion. Sciences include, obviously, science, but also more professional and occupational studies. The root of arts is the Latin ars, "art."

Example Sentences

What I receive most years are socks that say “#1 Dad,” last-minute arts and crafts, and the occasional grill gadget—a catalog essentially unchanged since 1965.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 17, 2026

In the 2007-08 school year, and on an easier state test, about 12% of Locke students tested as proficient in English language arts, and about 3% in math.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 16, 2026

In a reminder that hope springs eternal: performing arts promoter Martin Elbourne, who founded the festival, points to the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989.

From Barron's • Jun. 15, 2026

MMA is the bastard child of illegal street fights and martial arts, which has always made for a strange blend of freak-show sleaze and a culture of respect.

From Slate • Jun. 14, 2026

How might you adapt some of these to a language arts lesson?

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin