aesthetic

or es·thet·ic

[ es-thet-ikor, especially British, ees- ]

adjective

1. relating to the philosophy of aesthetics; concerned with notions such as the beautiful and the ugly.
2. relating to the science of aesthetics; concerned with the study of the mind and emotions in relation to the sense of beauty.
3. having a sense of the beautiful; characterized by a love of beauty.

   Synonyms: refined, cultivated, discriminating

4. relating to, involving, or concerned with pure emotion and sensation as opposed to pure intellectuality.

noun

1. the philosophical theory or set of principles governing the idea of beauty at a given time and place:

   the clean lines, bare surfaces, and sense of space that bespeak the machine-age aesthetic;

   the Cubist aesthetic.

2. a particular individual’s set of ideas about style and taste, along with its expression:

   the designer’s aesthetic of accessible, wearable fashion;

   a great aesthetic on her blog.

3. one’s set of principles or worldview as expressed through outward appearance, behavior, or actions:

   the democratic aesthetic of the abolitionists.

4. Archaic. the study of the nature of sensation.

aesthetic

/ ɪs-; iːsˈθɛtɪk /

adjective

1. connected with aesthetics or its principles
2. 1. relating to pure beauty rather than to other considerations
   2. artistic or relating to good taste

      an aesthetic consideration

noun

1. a principle of taste or style adopted by a particular person, group, or culture

   the Bauhaus aesthetic of functional modernity

Derived Forms

• aesˈthetically, adverb

Other Words From

• nonaes·thetic adjective
• pseudo·aes·thetic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of aesthetic¹

First recorded in 1795–1800; from New Latin aesthēticus, from Greek aisthētikós “pertaining to sense perception, perceptible, sensitive,” equivalent to aisthēt(ḗs) ( aesthete ) + -ikos -ic

Example Sentences

The shifting balance of power between these aesthetic worldviews encapsulates the story of what happened when Japan was pried open to Western influences.

From Los Angeles Times

Overalls, oversize knits and a faux fur hat that Snell sourced but didn’t end up using for the Tilda Swinton movie “The Eternal Daughter” are part of Rona’s contrasting rural aesthetic.

From Los Angeles Times

I loved it as a whole aesthetic, but I wanted to remove it from this motorcycling boy world.

From Los Angeles Times

The rest of the retro aesthetic is achieved with a desaturated color palette that is not well served by the digital photography and dim lighting.

From Los Angeles Times

“The colors and sepia-toned aesthetic of the intro set a cozy, nostalgic tone that aligns so well with the fall season, making it feel like a quintessential autumn show.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• artistic
• creative
• esthetic