Arty.

¹ American  

abbreviation

1. Artillery.

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arty ² American  

[ahr-tee] / ˈɑr ti /

adjective

Informal.

artier, artiest

1. characterized by a showy, pretentious, and often spurious display of artistic interest, manner, or mannerism.

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Arty ³ American  

[ahr-tee] / ˈɑr ti /

noun

1. a first name, form of Arthur.

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arty British  

/ ˈɑːtɪ /

adjective

1. informal having an ostentatious or affected interest in or desire to imitate artists or artistic standards

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Other Word Forms

• artily adverb
• artiness noun

Etymology

Origin of arty

First recorded in 1900–05; art ¹ + -y ¹

Example Sentences

When I told his agent that it was a very short, tight shoot, his agent said, “There is no project too small or too arty for David.”

From Los Angeles Times

Gregory, however, says he understood Dickinson’s artier touches on a personal level.

From Los Angeles Times

His three sisters - Rachel, Tanya and Fiona - remember him as an "arty, sporty" brother who was keen on the environment and loved running in the Scottish hills.

From BBC

That work paid off with “I’m a TV,” Martin’s debut album of original songwriting that evokes the millennial indie they grew up on as well as the arty pop of the Largo canon.

From Los Angeles Times

It featured the same jackets-off, casual image, but there was also a designer chic, with an arty black-and-white picture that wouldn't have looked out of place in an upmarket jeans advert.

From BBC

Related Words

• pretentious