fine art

American  

[fahyn ahrt] / ˈfaɪn ˈɑrt /

noun

1. a visual art considered to have been created primarily for aesthetic purposes and judged for its beauty and meaningfulness, specifically, painting, sculpture, drawing, watercolor, graphics, and architecture.

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fine art British  

noun

1. art produced chiefly for its aesthetic value, as opposed to applied art

2. Also called: beaux arts.  (often plural) any of the fields in which such art is produced, such as painting, sculpture, and engraving

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fine art Idioms  

1. Something requiring highly developed techniques and skills, as in He's turned lying into a fine art, or The contractor excels in the fine art of demolition. This term alludes to the fine arts, such as music, painting, and sculpture, which require both skill and talent. It is now often used to describe anything that takes skill to do. [First half of 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of fine art

First recorded in 1760–70

Example Sentences

Marc Bernstein, who frames and hangs fine art in Charleston, S.C., views it as a novelty for which he has no use.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 6, 2026

Matthew Perry’s collection of “Friends” memorabilia, fine art and other prized possessions is going up for auction next month, nearly three years after the actor died at age 54.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Oyler, 42, is a longtime accountant for Haus of Portraiture, a fine art portrait studio in Santa Monica.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

Stanat said he had been identified as a gifted student and went on to get master’s degrees in computer science and fine art from Oxford University.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 30, 2026

“Fiona is already being trained in the fine art of release,” The Giver told him.

From "The Giver" by Lois Lowry