artist

noun

art·​ist ˈär-tist 

plural artists

1

a

: a person who creates art (such as painting, sculpture, music, or writing) using conscious skill and creative imagination

the great artists of the Renaissance

an artist specializing in watercolors

b

: a person skilled in any of the arts

I can't draw at all, but both of my children are very talented artists.

2

: a skilled performer

a trapeze artist

especially : a musical or theatrical entertainer : artiste

a jazz artist

3

: a person who is very good at something

a scam artist

a strikeout artist

4

a

obsolete : one skilled or versed in learned arts

b

archaic : physician

c

archaic : artisan sense 1

Synonyms

• ace
• adept
• authority
• cognoscente
• connoisseur
• crackerjack
• crackajack
• dab [chiefly British]
• dab hand [chiefly British]
• expert
• fiend
• geek
• guru
• hand
• hotshot
• maestro
• master
• maven
• mavin
• meister
• past master
• proficient
• scholar
• shark
• sharp
• virtuoso
• whiz
• wizard

Examples of artist in a Sentence

the great artists of the Renaissance

a pitcher who is a strikeout artist

Recent Examples on the Web

Through her connection to Nashville, Wilson was invited to perform on the PBS special Patsy Cline: Walkin’ After Midnight featuring a variety of artists (Wynonna, Pat Benatar, Ashley McBryde, Kristin Chenoweth, and others) performing Patsy Cline songs at the historic Ryman Auditorium. —Pam Windsor, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024

Swift won in 10 categories: top Artist, top female artist, top Billboard 200 artist, top Hot 100 artist, Top 100 songwriter, top streaming songs artist, top radio songs artist, top Billboard Global 200 Artist, top Billboard Global (excl. —Thania Garcia, Variety, 13 Dec. 2024

The 2024 Billboard Music Awards presented by Marriott Bonvoy are in the books, with multiple artists taking home awards in between memorable performances from Stray Kids, Jelly Roll and more. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 13 Dec. 2024

Two generationally important artists with nothing to prove but plenty left to accomplish. —August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 13 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French artiste "person practicing a craft, student of the liberal arts," borrowed from Medieval Latin artista "artificer, student of the liberal arts," from Latin art-, ars "acquired skill, art entry 1" + -ista -ist entry 1

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 4c

Phrases Containing artist

• con artist
• escape artist
• flimflam artist/man
• paleo-artist
• recording artist

Kids Definition

artist

noun

art·​ist ˈärt-əst 

1

: a person skilled in one of the arts (as painting, sculpture, music, or writing)

2

: a person showing unusual ability in an occupation requiring skill