artist

[ ahr-tist ]

noun

1. a person who produces works in any of the arts that are primarily subject to aesthetic criteria.
2. a person who practices one of the fine arts, especially a painter or sculptor.
3. a person whose trade or profession requires a knowledge of design, drawing, painting, etc.:

   a commercial artist.

4. a person who works in one of the performing arts, as an actor, musician, or singer; a public performer:

   a mime artist; an artist of the dance.

5. a person whose work exhibits exceptional skill.
6. a person who is expert at trickery or deceit:

   He's an artist with cards.

7. Obsolete. an artisan.

artist

/ ˈɑːtɪst /

noun

1. a person who practises or is skilled in an art, esp painting, drawing, or sculpture
2. a person who displays in his work qualities required in art, such as sensibility and imagination
3. a person whose profession requires artistic expertise, esp a designer

   a commercial artist

4. a person skilled in some task or occupation

   an artist at bricklaying

5. obsolete.
   an artisan
6. slang.
   a person devoted to or proficient in something

   a con artist

   a booze artist

Word History and Origins

Origin of artist¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Middle French artiste, from Medieval Latin artista “master of arts”; equivalent to art ¹ + -ist

Synonym Study

Artist, artisan, artiste are persons having superior skill or ability, or who are capable of producing superior work. An artist is a person engaged in some type of fine art. An artisan is engaged in a craft or applied art. An artiste is usually a skilled public performer.

Example Sentences

General ticket sales begin Friday at noon local time, but artist presale starts Wednesday at noon local time.

From Los Angeles Times

“Going through an ugly divorce while I was in the public eye as a Christian artist — rocks would have been thrown at me,” he says.

From Los Angeles Times

Neither promoter Goldenvoice nor representatives for each artist responded to requests for comment on the bill, but outlets including Rolling Stone have cited them as likely or confirmed performers.

From Los Angeles Times

The “In Color” artist faces up to a $5,000 fine, if convicted, and is scheduled to appear in a Williamson County courtroom on Feb. 6, according to the outlet.

From Los Angeles Times

Photographer, artist, musician and diva Tyler Matthew Oyer and I popped around the scene, where Oyer captured moments backstage and on the runway that reverberated with heat and intimacy.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• artisan
• composer
• expert
• inventor
• painter