artisan

American  

[ahr-tuh-zuhn] / ˈɑr tə zən /

noun

1. a person skilled in a utilitarian art, trade, or craft, especially one requiring manual skill; a craftsperson.

2. a person or company that makes a high-quality or distinctive product in small quantities, usually by hand or using traditional methods.

   our favorite local food artisans.

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adjective

1. pertaining to an artisan or the product of an artisan; artisanal.

   artisan beer.

artisan British  

/ ɑːˈtɪzənəl, ˈɑːtɪˌzæn, ˈɑːtɪzənəl, ˌɑːtɪˈzæn /

noun

1. a skilled workman; craftsman

2. obsolete an artist

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Related Words

See artist.

Other Word Forms

• artisanal adjective
• artisanship noun

Etymology

Origin of artisan

First recorded in 1530–40; from French, from Italian artigiano, equivalent to Latin artīt(us) “trained in arts and crafts” (past participle of artīre ) + Italian -iano (from Latin -iānus ); see art ¹, -ite ², -ian

Compare meaning

How does artisan compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• artisan vs. artesian

Explanation

An artisan has both the creativity and the skill to make a product. Wandering around a local craft fair, you will often see artisans selling handicrafts like pot holders or beaded jewelry. In medieval times, blacksmiths, carpenters, and masons were artisan trades. Unskilled laborers were not. The hierarchy of skill and prestige among artisans, from apprentice to journeyman to master, is sometimes reflected in ranks among today’s trade union members. But today an artisan can just be someone who makes attractive and creative work with their hands, like jewelry or pottery. Although, if they're trying to sell their goods, it probably helps if they're very skilled.

Example Sentences

Before finding her way onto the screen, Tânia Maria has long made a living as an artisan handcrafting rugs.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

Cocowalk, revamped in 2021, is an old-style village square in the marina-dominated neighborhood, bursting with independent boutiques, artisan vendors, family-owned restaurants, and lush gardens.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

Canaan Palestine – Canaan Palestine’s extra-virgin olive oils are made from olives grown on ancient trees tended by more than 2,400 artisan family farms across 52 villages in Palestine, each carrying generations of knowledge.

From Salon • Dec. 4, 2025

As the U.S. economy shifted from colonial mercantilism to building its own markets, the want ads were dominated by land, shipping and artisan trades.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 19, 2025

Mozart’s emotional subtext, on the other hand, is disguised beneath the sheen of decorum and poise required of an eighteenth-century artisan.

From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall

Related Words

• builder
• carpenter
• craftsman
• professional