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

Boesky wanted to show the two artists side by side, since Mckinney has had somewhat of a recent fixation on Hopper after seeing his work at the Whitney Museum of American Art in 2023. —Angelica Villa, ARTnews.com, 13 Mar. 2025

For Cornejo, starting over on a new label has given him a chance to aim higher and keep evolving as an artist. —Julyssa Lopez, Rolling Stone, 13 Mar. 2025

Complex commissioned the Japanese contemporary artist to create an assortment of apparel and collectibles for the Tokyo Series games that will be played at the Tokyo Dome between the Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday and Wednesday. —Jean E. Palmieri, WWD, 13 Mar. 2025

The set is the standalone remixed, reworked version of Brat, where every tune is turned into a collaboration with another artist. —Hugh McIntyre, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

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

Rhymes for artist

• chartist
• smartest
• bonapartist

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