artisan

noun

ar·​ti·​san ˈär-tə-zən 

-sən,

 chiefly British  ˌä-tə-ˈzan

1

: a worker who practices a trade or handicraft : craftsperson

a skilled artisan

2

: a person or company that produces something (such as cheese or wine) in limited quantities often using traditional methods

—often used before another noun

artisan breads

artisanship

ˈär-tə-zən-ˌship 

-sən-

noun

Did you know?

Artisans aren't the same as artists, but it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference. In the Middle Ages, artisans organized themselves into guilds. In every city each group of artisans—weavers, carpenters, shoemakers, and so on—had its own guild, which set wages and prices, kept standards high, and protected its members from outside competitors. In America, however, most artisans have always been fiercely independent. Today, when factories produce almost all of our goods, artisans usually make only fine objects for those who can afford them. And we now even include food among the artisan's crafts, so you can buy artisanal cheeses, breads, and chocolates—but probably not if you're watching your budget.

Synonyms

• artificer
• crafter
• craftsman
• craftsperson
• handcraftsman
• handicrafter
• handicraftsman
• handworker
• tradesman

Examples of artisan in a Sentence

They sell rugs made by local artisans.

we visited a re-created 19th-century New England village that features an array of artisans—a cooper, a carpenter, a blacksmith, a potter, a glassblower

Recent Examples on the Web

La Colombe in Cape Town sells covetable crockery and cutlery designed by local artisans—including a ceramic beehive, a tribute to the region’s honey. —Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 23 Dec. 2024

Work with the local community, such as chefs, artisans or local brands, to provide travelers with an authentic taste of the region. —Pascal Bélanger, Forbes, 19 Dec. 2024

Making and repairing them is a not quite lost but definitely endangered craft carried out by artisans (notably at Let There Be Neon in Tribeca). —Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 17 Dec. 2024

Food vendors, artisans, and music flood this small town for the weekend, bringing in over 50,000 attendees annually. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 14 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from an Upper Italian equivalent of Italian (Tuscan) artigiano, from arte "craft, art entry 1" (going back to Latin art-, ars) + -igiano, adjective suffix of appurtenance, from Vulgar Latin *-ēs- (going back to Latin -ensis, adjective suffix of place) + Latin -iānus -ian

Note: See note at parmesan.

First Known Use

circa 1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

artisan

noun

ar·​ti·​san ˈärt-ə-zən 

-sən

: a skilled worker

especially : one (as a carpenter) whose occupation requires skill with the hands