arts

British  

/ ɑːts /

plural noun

1. 1. imaginative, creative, and nonscientific branches of knowledge considered collectively, esp as studied academically

   2. ( as modifier )

      an arts degree

2. See fine art

3. cunning or crafty actions or plots; schemes

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Explanation

The arts are subjects that you study in school which have some artistic or social aspect, rather than being purely practical or job-related. If you major in English and minor in music, you're studying the arts. University subjects and separate colleges — and often even the degrees they award — are sometimes divided into arts and sciences. The arts include things like dance and photography, but also subjects such as Latin or religion. Sciences include, obviously, science, but also more professional and occupational studies. The root of arts is the Latin ars, "art."

Example Sentences

Reflecting his own abiding interests, Frederick wanted to turn Brandenburg-Prussia into a “kingdom of the Enlightenment,” characterized by religious tolerance and patronage of the arts and sciences.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

"The world needs diverse voices ... and so, every background should be able to talk about how they feel about the world using the arts," he added.

From Barron's • Apr. 27, 2026

After more than two and a half years of research, planning and construction, Dataland, the world’s first museum of AI arts, will open June 20.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026

Reorganization is seen for legal services, accountants, financial analysts and technical writers, while those in software engineering, graphic design and creative arts could grow with AI.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 17, 2026

As mentioned in Chapter 1, education assessment for all subjects and the arts has undergone significant change over the past 30 years, from No Child Left Behind to the Common Core State Standards Initiative.

From "Music and the Child" by Natalie Sarrazin