arty

[ ahr-tee ]

/ ˈɑr ti /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR arty ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective, art·i·er, art·i·est. Informal.

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

Nearby words

artsy-fartsy, artsybashev, artur, artware, artwork, arty, arty-crafty, arty-farty, arty., artzybasheff, artzybasheff, boris

Also artsy.

Origin of arty

First recorded in 1900–05; art¹ + -y¹

Related formsart·i·ly, adverbart·i·ness, noun

Definition for arty (2 of 3)

Arty

[ ahr-tee ]

/ ˈɑr ti /

noun

a male given name, form of Arthur.

Definition for arty (3 of 3)

Arty.

Artillery.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for arty

Cosmopolis is too arty and abstract, even by Cronenberg standards, to become a commercial success.
‘Cosmopolis’ Suggests ‘Twilight’ Star Robert Pattinson Can Act|Geoff Berkshire|August 16, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Once she became a “pro”, however, she abandoned her arty ways and stuck to a more documentary style.
India's Modern Eye|Blake Gopnik|July 17, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Off with your knapsack, Arty; Jenny, bring your pots and pans.
The Kangaroo Hunters|Anne Bowman
They came as young as you, Arty, and as weak as you, but no one ever made them do wrong.
St. Winifred's|Frederic W. Farrar

He was only a baby; and she had left him to run about with Arty and Catty as if he were a big boy.
The Judgment of Eve|May Sinclair
But, while perusing these two books, we have had an 'umble and an 'arty laugh in the depths of our 'umiliation.
The Catholic World. Volume III; Numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.|E. Rameur
He linked his arm in Arty Kane's and the two walked along the Strand, discussing the permutations of human feeling.
The Intrusions of Peggy|Anthony Hope

British Dictionary definitions for arty

arty

US artsy

/ (ˈɑːtɪ) /

adjective artier or artiest

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

Derived Formsartiness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for arty

arty

adj.

1901, "having artistic pretentions," from art (n.) + -y (2); cf. artsy.

arty

adjective, art·i·er, art·i·est. Informal.

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of arty

Definition for arty (2 of 3)

Arty

noun

Definition for arty (3 of 3)

Arty.

Examples from the Web for arty

British Dictionary definitions for arty

arty

US artsy

adjective artier or artiest

Word Origin and History for arty

arty