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

Derived Forms

• ˌconnoisˈseurship, noun

Other Words From

• con·nois·seur·ship 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

When it comes to food, I am adventurous in my tastes, but I am a wuss about heat — a connoisseur of blandness.

From Washington Post

The sting of the honeybee has been used as a reference point by sting pain connoisseur, Justin Schmidt.

From Nautilus

Looking for last minute gifts for someone with a particular hobby is one thing, but buying a gift for a gamer is another matter entirely, especially if they’re a connoisseur in the field.

From Time

This is down to the long-standing desire of conifer connoisseurs to discover branch mutations and from them propagate slow-growing versions known as dwarf conifers.

From Washington Post

Many home cooks believe all oatmeal tastes mostly the same, but it’s a point of pride for a porridge connoisseur to rise above this stereotype to make a truly distinguished bowl of oats.

From Eater

Alcatraz had its birdman, and Greenhaven had one too; a real connoisseur.

From The Daily Beast

Recently I had dinner with a friend who is affluent, educated, and a noted wine connoisseur.

From The Daily Beast

My agent [Andrew Wylie] suggested calling the book “The Instant Connoisseur.”

From The Daily Beast

Before his days as a cat meme connoisseur he was in a band The Lashes, which had record deals with Columbia and Lookout!

From The Daily Beast

Instead, Costume Institute curators seem more wedded to surface appearance than any connoisseur of Old Master oils could be.

From The Daily Beast

Ben Jonson loved the 'durne weed,' and describes its every accident with the gusto of a connoisseur.

From Project Gutenberg

They are all, however, marked by the stamp of genius, and give but little trouble to a well informed connoisseur.

From Project Gutenberg

I do not suppose that a connoisseur would call her beautiful, but she suggested health—health of body, of mind, of soul.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Spackles regarded Grandmother Penny and nodded with the air of a connoisseur.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Flick Wilder, the well-known art connoisseur, collects such things.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• aficionado
• buff
• devotee
• dilettante