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

Jawara Alleyne Hailing from Jamaica, Jawara Alleyne is a multidisciplinary artist, creative director, and educator. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 17 Feb. 2025

Many artists and creative partners have already begun to sever their ties to the Kennedy Center or cancel upcoming shows at its venues out of an aversion to the board’s dramatic political turn. —E. Andrew Taylor, The Conversation, 17 Feb. 2025

Related Articles The artist and designer is best known for her Polaroids documenting the buzzy New York cultural and underground scene in the ‘80s, portraying pop culture icons including Madonna, Keith Haring, Deborah Harry, Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol, among others. —Martino Carrera, WWD, 17 Feb. 2025

The former United States Ambassador to Australia's appearance with Schlossberg, a designer and artist, comes less than a month after Kennedy published a scathing letter in opposition of her cousin Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s bid for United States health secretary. —Esther Kang, People.com, 17 Feb. 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

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