impressionist
Americannoun
-
a person who follows or adheres to the theories, methods, and practices of impressionism, especially in the fields of painting, music, or literature.
-
an entertainer who does impressions.
adjective
noun
-
(usually capital) any of the French painters of the late 19th century who were exponents of impressionism
-
(sometimes capital) any artist, composer, or writer who uses impressionism
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an entertainer who impersonates famous people
adjective
Other Word Forms
- impressionistic adjective
- impressionistically adverb
- nonimpressionistic adjective
- semi-impressionistic adjective
Etymology
Origin of impressionist
From the French word impressionniste, dating back to 1875–80. See impression, -ist
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
British paintings with repeat sales posted the best mean return of 3.4%, followed by impressionist works with 3.1%.
From Barron's • Apr. 17, 2026
He spent the better part of a decade in the impressionist and modern-art department before moving to work under Tobias Meyer, then Sotheby’s worldwide head of contemporary art and principal auctioneer.
From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 22, 2025
It’s packed with ideas from all over the American songbook — Aaron Copland and western folk, run through with Wilson’s own cracked impressionist view of life on the rails.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 11, 2025
Born in Worcestershire in 1958, Sir Lenny has been performing since he was 16 years old, first as an impressionist on a TV talent show and then as a stand-up comedian.
From BBC • May 20, 2025
Before long, everyone in the Einsatzstab Reichsleiter Rosenberg— the men out there scouring the continent for hidden libraries, concealed prayer scrolls, closeted impressionist paintings—will be handed rifles and sent into the fire.
From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
