connoisseur

[kon-uh-sur, -soor]

noun

1. a person who is especially competent to pass critical judgments in an art, particularly one of the fine arts, or in matters of taste.

   a connoisseur of modern art.

2. a discerning judge of the best in any field.

   a connoisseur of horses.

connoisseur

/ ˌkɒnɪˈsɜː /

noun

1. a person with special knowledge or appreciation of a field, esp in the arts

Other Word Forms

• connoisseurship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of connoisseur¹

First recorded in 1705–15; from French; Old French conoiseor, from Latin cognōscitōr- (stem of cognōscitor ) “knower”; cognoscible, -tor

Word History and Origins

Origin of connoisseur¹

C18: from French, from Old French conoiseor, from connoistre to know, from Latin cognōscere

Example Sentences

Short and stout, he was unprepossessing and—especially unfortunate for a connoisseur of visual art—would soon lose the use of one eye in a car accident.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In total, the Cheech has held at least seven different exhibitions that showcased artists from across the Inland Empire — at times, catching Marin’s connoisseur eyes.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

He was not, by any stretch, a connoisseur of grilled meats.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

The connoisseurs would know but Labubu's fame has certainly rubbed off, with other specimens in the family also flying off the shelves.

Read more on BBC

When asked for the best spot to experience a launch, Wilkinson had responded, in the manner typical of connoisseurs, with questions of his own.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• aficionado 
• buff 
• devotee 
• dilettante