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

More than 700 artists were nominated across 58 categories this year, according to Manuel Abud, CEO of the Latin Recording Academy. —Nicole Acevedo, NBC News, 15 Nov. 2024

Speaking with SiriusXM, Gramm lamented that Foreigner’s request to have its original members perform a medley of greatest hits was ignored — instead, younger artists Kelly Clarkson and Demi Lovato, as well as friend of the group Sammy Hagar, were chosen to perform on their behalf. —Devon Ivie, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024

Yet upon graduating in 2015, the economic strain of being an artist required her to take three jobs. —Alex Greenberger, ARTnews.com, 5 Nov. 2024

Illenium opened up about his journey of finding sobriety and going on to became a stadium filling artist in his Billboard cover story this past March. —Katie Bain, Billboard, 5 Nov. 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