connoisseur

noun

con·​nois·​seur ˌkä-nə-ˈsər 

 also  -ˈsu̇r

1

: expert

especially : one who understands the details, technique, or principles of an art and is competent to act as a critical judge

a connoisseur of music

2

: one who enjoys with discrimination and appreciation of subtleties

a connoisseur of fine wines

connoisseurship

ˌkä-nə-ˈsər-ˌship 

 also  -ˈsu̇r-

noun

Synonyms

• cognoscente
• dilettante [dated]

Examples of connoisseur in a Sentence

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, now starring in Broadway's A Raisin in the Sun, takes his grooming rituals seriously. "I take a bath around 3 a.m. when I get home to wind down. I'm a bath connoisseur," says Combs, 34. "I have bath salts, bath beads—I can make you the best bath in the world." —Ann Marie Cruz, People, 14 June 2004

Police reporting had made me a connoisseur of auto accidents. Some people could tell a fake Rembrandt from the real thing; I could tell a run-of-the-mill fender bender from a real accident. —Russell Baker, The Good Times, 1989

It was apple juice. Ortiz watched him drink it with all the delicacy of a wine connoisseur sampling new bordeaux. —Tom Clancy, The Cardinal of the Kremlin, (1988) 1989

He was a voracious reader, a strong critic, an art connoisseur in certain directions, a collector of books, but above all he was a man of the world by profession, and loved the contacts—perhaps the collisions—of society. —Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams, 1907

She is a connoisseur of African art.

a forthcoming exhibit at the art museum that is eagerly awaited by connoisseurs of ancient Greek pottery

Recent Examples on the Web

Cocktail connoisseurs will want to make a special point of stopping at the hotel’s Library Bar. —Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 3 Nov. 2024

So while some exhibitors at The Art Show are catering to the tastes of an older generation of connoisseurs, the ADAA has been adding more primary and younger dealers to the association in recent years, meaning that there is now both historical and contemporary work on view. —Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 30 Oct. 2024

Many espresso connoisseurs recommend adding water to the espresso shots to avoid over-diluting your drink. —Chelsea Rae Bourgeois, Rdn, Health, 29 Oct. 2024

From competitive athlete to wine connoisseur and advocate, Monika Elling’s story is one of finding harmony between indulgence and physical and mental well-being. —Molly Peck, USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

obsolete French (now connaisseur), from Old French connoisseor, from connoistre to know, from Latin cognoscere — more at cognition

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

connoisseur

noun

con·​nois·​seur ˌkän-ə-ˈsər 

-ˈsu̇(ə)r

: an expert in a particular subject (as art or wine)

connoisseurship

-ˌship 

noun

Etymology

from obsolete French connoisseur "expert," from early French connoisseor (same meaning), from connoistre "to know," from Latin cognoscere "to know" — related to incognito, recognize