artiste
artiste Lexical Profile
artiste Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A professional entertainer, especially a singer, dancer, actor, or cabaret performer.
"The historic music hall once hosted the most celebrated trapeze and cabaret artistes in Europe."
A person of consummate skill in a particular craft or pursuit, or (often humorously or ironically) someone who adopts overly pretentious artistic airs.
"The temperamental chef considers himself a true culinary artiste and refuses to alter a single ingredient on his menu."
Word Nuance & Usage
Unlike 'artist', which broadly refers to a creator of fine art, 'artiste' specifically denotes a professional public entertainer (such as a singer, dancer, or cabaret performer) and is frequently used with a humorous or mildly ironic tone to mock someone's artistic pretensions.
• Rhymes for artiste
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed in the early 19th century directly from French 'artiste', from Italian 'artista' and Medieval Latin 'artista', ultimately derived from Latin 'ars' ('art, skill'). It was re-borrowed into English with its French spelling and pronunciation to distinguish theatrical performers from painters and sculptors.