artist
artist Lexical Profile
artist Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A person who creates visual art—such as paintings, drawings, sculptures, or installations—either as a profession or as a serious pastime.
"The local gallery is hosting a retrospective exhibition of the artist's early landscape paintings."
A professional performer in the creative arts, especially a musician, singer, dancer, or actor.
"Several Grammy-winning recording artists collaborated on the charity album."
A person who practices any occupation, craft, or activity with exceptional skill, finesse, and creative mastery.
"The pastry chef is a true artist when it comes to crafting delicate sugar sculptures."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Artist' is the broad term for a creator in the visual or performing arts, whereas 'artiste' refers more specifically—and often somewhat archly—to a professional public entertainer such as a singer, dancer, or actor.
• Rhymes for artist
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the 16th century from French 'artiste', from Italian 'artista', ultimately derived from Latin 'ars' (meaning 'art' or 'skill'). Originally used to denote a master of the liberal arts or a skilled craftsman, it narrowed in the 18th century to refer primarily to practitioners of the fine arts.