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

LeBron James and Gregg Popovich, the coach of the San Antonio Spurs, are serious connoisseurs who’ve turned many in the league on to wine. —Eric Asimov, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2024

Their impressive wine cellar is a delightful treat for wine novices and connoisseurs alike. —Jasmine Grant, Travel + Leisure, 20 Apr. 2024

Alastair Miller; Maurice Rougemont / Getty Images file In Camembert’s early days, the fungi existed naturally in the air in the damp caves where it was aged, said Emily Monaco, an American writer and cheese connoisseur who lives in Paris. —Josh Lederman, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2024

The museum is also calling fans and connoisseurs of other quirky pop-culture elements—including Crocs and Emojis. —Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 7 Mar. 2024

There are craft beer connoisseurs who are cutting back on their drinking. —Allison Robicelli, Washington Post, 4 Apr. 2024

The resort's signature cocktail, the Tramuntana, combines herbs from its organic garden with the obscure (to outsiders) local liqueur called Palo de Mallorca—a bitter remedy beloved by Mallorcan connoisseurs that contains cinchona bark and gentian root. —Tony Perrottet, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Mar. 2024

And for good reason, this era was applauded by countless fashion connoisseurs including myself. —Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 21 Mar. 2024

This two-hour class will turn everyone, from bar beginner to cocktail connoisseur, into the ultimate host. —Brittany Delay, The Mercury News, 28 Feb. 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

: a person qualified to act as a judge in matters of taste and appreciation

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