connoisseur

noun

con·​nois·​seur ˌkä-nə-ˈsər How to pronounce connoisseur (audio)
 also  -ˈsu̇r
1
: expert
especially : one who understands the details, technique, or principles of an art and is competent to act as a critical judge
a connoisseur of music
2
: one who enjoys with discrimination and appreciation of subtleties
a connoisseur of fine wines
connoisseurship
ˌkä-nə-ˈsər-ˌship How to pronounce connoisseur (audio)
 also  -ˈsu̇r-
noun

Examples of connoisseur in a Sentence

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, now starring in Broadway's A Raisin in the Sun, takes his grooming rituals seriously. "I take a bath around 3 a.m. when I get home to wind down. I'm a bath connoisseur," says Combs, 34. "I have bath salts, bath beads—I can make you the best bath in the world." Ann Marie Cruz, People, 14 June 2004
Police reporting had made me a connoisseur of auto accidents. Some people could tell a fake Rembrandt from the real thing; I could tell a run-of-the-mill fender bender from a real accident. Russell Baker, The Good Times, 1989
It was apple juice. Ortiz watched him drink it with all the delicacy of a wine connoisseur sampling new bordeaux. Tom Clancy, The Cardinal of the Kremlin, (1988) 1989
He was a voracious reader, a strong critic, an art connoisseur in certain directions, a collector of books, but above all he was a man of the world by profession, and loved the contacts—perhaps the collisions—of society. Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams, 1907
She is a connoisseur of African art. a forthcoming exhibit at the art museum that is eagerly awaited by connoisseurs of ancient Greek pottery
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Matured in American white-oak ex–bourbon barrels, Idle Assembly yields notes of coconut, maraschino cherries, and cigar tobacco—appealing to connoisseurs and first-time rum drinkers alike. Air Mail, 2 Aug. 2025 Like with high-end cars or watches, loyal connoisseurs swear by the brand. Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 31 July 2025 For connoisseurs of underground sounds, the fest remains a bonanza. Karoline Leonard, Austin American Statesman, 30 July 2025 Original cast members included food and wine expert Antoni Porowski, design chief Bobby Berk, grooming guru Jonathan Van Ness, culture and lifestyle specialist Karamo Brown and fashion connoisseur Tan France. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 9 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for connoisseur

Word History

Etymology

obsolete French (now connaisseur), from Old French connoisseor, from connoistre to know, from Latin cognoscere — more at cognition

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of connoisseur was in 1714

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Connoisseur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/connoisseur. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

connoisseur

noun
con·​nois·​seur ˌkän-ə-ˈsər How to pronounce connoisseur (audio)
-ˈsu̇(ə)r
: an expert in a particular subject (as art or wine)
connoisseurship noun
Etymology

from obsolete French connoisseur "expert," from early French connoisseor (same meaning), from connoistre "to know," from Latin cognoscere "to know" — related to incognito, recognize

More from Merriam-Webster on connoisseur

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!