dilettante
- a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler.
- a lover of an art or science, especially of a fine art.
- of or relating to dilettantes.
Origin of dilettante
Synonyms for dilettante
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comRelated Words for dilettantish
dilettante, inexperienced, inexpert, nonprofessional, unskilled, unskillful, sciolisticExamples from the Web for dilettantish
Contemporary Examples of dilettantish
Men who marry rich, by contrast, are often seen as dilettantish—effete even.
Historical Examples of dilettantish
His dilettantish manner was gone for good, as was also his foppish beard.
Molly Brown of KentuckyNell Speed
Evelyns suggestions were unpractical and dilettantish, and Pepyss ramblings not over wise.
Haunted LondonWalter Thornbury
He was exceedingly well fixed in a money way—a sort of dilettantish architect, with offices in the Metropolitan Tower.
The Destroying AngelLouis Joseph Vance
dilettante
- a person whose interest in a subject is superficial rather than professional
- a person who loves the arts
- of or characteristic of a dilettante
Word Origin for dilettante
Word Origin and History for dilettantish
dilettante
1733, borrowing of Italian dilettante "lover of music or painting," from dilettare "to delight," from Latin delectare (see delight (n.)). Originally without negative connotation, "devoted amateur," the pejorative sense emerged late 18c. by contrast with professional.
dilettante
Someone who is interested in the fine arts as a spectator, not as a serious practitioner. Dilettante is most often used to mean a dabbler, someone with a broad but shallow attachment to any field.