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Synonyms

sculptor

American  
[skuhlp-ter] / ˈskʌlp tər /

noun

genitive

Sculptoris
  1. a person who practices the art of sculpture.

  2. (initial capital letter) a southern constellation between Phoenix and Cetus.


Sculptor 1 British  
/ ˈskʌlptə /

noun

  1. a faint constellation in the S hemisphere between Phoenix and Cetus

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

sculptor 2 British  
/ ˈskʌlptə /

noun

  1. a person who practises sculpture

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sculptor

First recorded before 1625–35; from Latin, equivalent to sculp(ere) “to carve” + -tor -tor

Explanation

An artist who creates three-dimensional works of art is a sculptor. Some sculptors carve designs out of a piece of wood or stone, while others weld slabs of metal together to create their masterpieces. The thing distinguishing a sculptor from other artists is that their work can be viewed from many different sides, instead of being a relatively flat painting or collage. Sculptors today work in just about any medium you can imagine, including clay, fabric, metal, bone, plastic — even sand and ice. Ancient Greek and Roman sculptors created lifelike figures from marble and bronze, some of which you can still see in museums today. The Latin root of sculpture means "to carve."

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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.

Fewer know him as the sentimental sculptor celebrated in Gagosian Beverly Hills’ upcoming “Frank Gehry” exhibition, the first to showcase Gehry’s work since his death in December.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 17, 2026

Before the Fonseca family, the property was owned by sculptor Daniel Chester French, the man behind the Lincoln Memorial, who added a “breathtaking” studio space to the house in the 1880s.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 14, 2026

Primarily a sculptor and printmaker, Catlett worked in the social realist tradition and her work often celebrates the dignity of Black and brown working people, especially women.

From Salon • Apr. 6, 2026

He was born in Castleford in West Yorkshire and studied at Leeds School of Art alongside Wakefield sculptor Barbara Hepworth.

From BBC • Mar. 15, 2026

I can hear the sculptor through the window—a deep dark moaning that’s sucking the air out of the air.

From "I'll Give You the Sun" by Jandy Nelson