painter

¹ American  

[peyn-ter] / ˈpeɪn tər /

noun

1. an artist who paints pictures.

2. a person who coats walls or other surfaces with paint, especially as an occupation.

3. Astronomy. Painter, the constellation Pictor.

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painter ² American  

[peyn-ter] / ˈpeɪn tər /

noun

1. a rope, usually at the bow, for fastening a boat to a ship, stake, etc.

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painter ³ American  

[peyn-ter] / ˈpeɪn tər /

noun

1. cougar.

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painter ¹ British  

/ ˈpeɪntə /

noun

1. a person who paints surfaces as a trade

2. an artist who paints pictures

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painter ² British  

/ ˈpeɪntə /

noun

1. a line attached to the bow of a boat for tying it up

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Etymology

Origin of painter¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English peyntour, pentour, paint(o)ur, from Anglo-French peint(o)ur, from unattested Vulgar Latin pinctor, from Latin pictor (noun derivative of pingere paint ( def. ) + -or ² ( def. ) ); see -er ¹ ( def. )

Origin of painter²

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English peyntour, pentre, probably from Middle French pentoir, variant of pendoir “rope, cord for hanging things on,” from Old French pentoir, penteur; see origin at pend, -er ²

Origin of painter³

An Americanism dating back to 1755–65; variant of panther

Explanation

A painter is an artist who uses a brush to daub colors onto paper or canvas. The person who tints your bedroom walls pink at your request is also a painter. The main thing painters have in common is that they use paint — whether it's watercolor, house paint, or finger paint. If you hire a painter to paint your portrait, you'll end up with a work of art suitable for framing. And if you hire a painter to paint your house green, you'll end up with a green house. If a sailboat captain mentions a painter, they're probably referring to the special rope used for towing or tying up a boat.

Example Sentences

In Valentino by Alessandro Michele, they used Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi as inspiration, according to Vogue, and the “Killing of a Sacred Elmo” vibes were in your face, in a good way.

From Salon • May 5, 2026

As the American painter recalled years later, Borger in the 1920s was a settlement of “rough shacks, oil rigs, pungent stinks from gas pockets, and broad-faced, big-boned Texas oil speculators.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

Theodor Thomas was, as well, a painter with a visionary sensibility and a pianist, self-taught other than a handful of lessons from Gershwin.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 24, 2026

The prize is named after painter JMW Turner and awarded annually to a British artist for an outstanding exhibition or other presentation of their work.

From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026

When Leonardo da Vinci arrives at the court of Milan, he isn’t introduced as a painter, or a sculptor, or an engineer, or even a mathematician.

From "The Mona Lisa Vanishes" by Nicholas Day

Related Words

• animator
• artisan
• craftsman
• illustrator