beaux arts

1 of 2

plural noun

beaux arts

2 of 2

adjective

often capitalized B&A
: characterized by the use of historic forms, rich decorative detail, and a tendency toward monumental conception in architecture

Examples of beaux arts in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
This stunning beaux arts-style train station now doubles as LoDo’s mega living room, uniting locals and travelers at cool spots for food, drinks, shopping and free events from morning to late at night. Robin Soslow, Chron, 26 Feb. 2023 Getting out of the old municipal building, a handsome work of beaux arts architecture designed by C.D. Hill, was among Jonsson’s first mayoral priorities. Dallas News, 21 Dec. 2022 Nestled across a few blocks in the heart of downtown Brooklyn, BAM boasts several different performance venues, from black box theaters to a turn-of-the-century beaux arts opera house. Brent Lang, Variety, 13 June 2022 Their route ended at the old Dallas City Hall, a beaux arts-style building with regal columns on Harwood and Main streets. Dianne Solis, Dallas News, 24 July 2020 Renovations focused on preserving details from two time periods: those present when the beaux arts style structure opened in 1914, and those in place when Lee Harvey Oswald paid his visit to the building in November 1963. Dan Singer, Dallas News, 27 June 2019 Approaching their centennials, both are resplendently mirrored examples of a beaux arts heyday. Anne Farrar, National Geographic, 18 June 2019 The 20th- and 21st--century equivalent of such empires have produced some very different expressions well beyond beaux arts magnificence. Steven Stolman, House Beautiful, 18 Apr. 2019 From fur trading post to harbor of the Great Migration to icon of art deco and beaux art architecture, the city continues to evolve as a hub for folks seeking a fresh start. Leslie Pariseau, Condé Nast Traveler, 3 Oct. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'beaux arts.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Plural noun

French beaux-arts

Adjective

French École des Beaux-Arts School of Fine Arts, in Paris

First Known Use

Plural Noun

1753, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1878, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of beaux arts was in 1753

Dictionary Entries Near beaux arts

Cite this Entry

“Beaux arts.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/beaux%20arts. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!