connoisseur
Americannoun
-
a person who is especially competent to pass critical judgments in an art, particularly one of the fine arts, or in matters of taste.
a connoisseur of modern art.
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a discerning judge of the best in any field.
a connoisseur of horses.
noun
Other Word Forms
- connoisseurship noun
Etymology
Origin of connoisseur
First recorded in 1705–15; from French; Old French conoiseor, from Latin cognōscitōr- (stem of cognōscitor ) “knower”; cognoscible, -tor
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.
As far as horror films go, writer-director Ian Tuason’s debut feature “Undertone” has just about everything a genre connoisseur could ever want, all rolled into one.
From Salon • Mar. 15, 2026
“I became a bit of a connoisseur of bob runs,” said John Eaves, a world-champion freestyle skier.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 8, 2026
The baking connoisseur, known among fans and competitors for her affinity for boozy sweets and vibrant fashion and accessory choices, announced her departure from the wholesome series on Wednesday morning.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 21, 2026
Phillips said a 1518 was the sort of watch that once acquired, "a connoisseur can feel to have reached the utmost peak of collecting".
From Barron's • Nov. 9, 2025
Jake sniffed the air the way a sophisticated connoisseur might.
From "The Smartest Kid in the Universe" by Chris Grabenstein
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
