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Synonyms

arty

1 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.

Arty 2 American  
[ahr-tee] / ˈɑr ti /

noun

  1. a first name, form of Arthur.

Arty. 3 American  

abbreviation

  1. Artillery.

arty British  
/ ˈɑːtɪ /

adjective

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

"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

Other Word Forms

  • artily adverb
  • artiness noun

Etymology

Origin of arty

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

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Ralphs’ songwriting and guitar work in that band helped move rock ‘n’ roll out of the psychedelic ‘60s and into the struts and arty pomp of ‘70s glam.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2025

Last year they were seen in a rather arty black and white picture, showing them together as a family, but also with a style that owed something to an upmarket jeans advert.

From BBC • Dec. 19, 2024

“On me, they kind of pass as super, superthick arty frames.”

From Slate • Sep. 26, 2024

Even before our trio signs anything, there are a script, a cast and arty twin-sister directors, “hot off their Grand Prix at Cannes and their super-duper viral Walmart ad campaign,” already in place.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 27, 2024

I guess you had to show you were smart before being allowed to take an "arty" course.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.