art

noun

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\ ˈärt

Definition of art

(Entry 1 of 5)

1 : skill acquired by experience, study, or observation the art of making friends

2a : a branch of learning:

(1) : one of the humanities

(2) arts plural : liberal arts

b archaic : learning, scholarship

3 : an occupation requiring knowledge or skill the art of organ building

4a : the conscious use of skill and creative imagination especially in the production of aesthetic objects the art of painting landscapes also : works so produced a gallery for modern art

b(1) : fine arts

(2) : one of the fine arts

(3) : one of the graphic arts

5a archaic : a skillful plan

b : the quality or state of being artful (see artful sense 2a)

6 : decorative or illustrative elements in printed matter

art

adjective

Definition of art (Entry 2 of 5)

: produced as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes an art film art dolls art music

art

\ ˈärt

, ərt \

Definition of art (Entry 3 of 5)

archaic present tense second-person singular of be

art

abbreviation

Definition of art (Entry 4 of 5)

1 article

2 artificial

3 artillery

-art

noun suffix

Definition of -art (Entry 5 of 5)

— see -ard

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing art Learn More About art

Choose the Right Synonym for art

Noun

art, skill, cunning, artifice, craft mean the faculty of executing well what one has devised. art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power. the art of choosing the right word skill stresses technical knowledge and proficiency. the skill of a glassblower cunning suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing. a mystery plotted with great cunning artifice suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature. believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice craft may imply expertness in workmanship. the craft of a master goldsmith

Examples of art in a Sentence

Noun a piece of modern art It's a remarkable picture, but is it art? The museum has a large collection of folk art. He studied art in college.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Envisioning a celebration of music, art and crafts would make fellowship flow like sweet sap from a spring maple. — Steve West, Sun Sentinel, 23 June 2022 Following the death of her children, Jennifer launched the art and music therapy nonprofit Many Hands, Doing Good to help young people grappling with trauma and hardship in 2018. — Johnny Dodd, PEOPLE.com, 22 June 2022 The 37th annual Cedarburg Strawberry Festival brings art, music, kids' activities, food, libations and yes, lots of strawberries to downtown Cedarburg June 25-26. — Chris Foran, Journal Sentinel, 22 June 2022 After two festival-free summers due to COVID, the annual weekend-long celebration of art and music in Lake Oswego is back. — oregonlive, 22 June 2022 In addition, Jack and his wife Kim founded the Kokua Hawaii Foundation to support environmental education in Hawaii’s schools and communities, as well as the Johnson Ohana Foundation to support environmental, art and music education worldwide. — Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 June 2022 Following the parade, community members were invited to join in for an afternoon of art, music, speakers, boutiques, vendors, and food for purchase at Ingraham Park behind the Lorraine H. Morton Civic Center. — Karie Angell Luc, Chicago Tribune, 21 June 2022 Now some of the latter have opened chic hotels and hip art and music venues to complement the region's natural beauty. — Jen Murphy, Travel + Leisure, 19 June 2022 Starting noon Sunday in MacArthur Park, residents should get the full gamut of local food, live music and art. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective New Orleans is a city of neighborhoods and experiencing Prospect asks visitors to traverse the city’s network of neighborhoods with venues ranging from the traditional, like museums, to public spaces to non-art venues. — Chadd Scott, Forbes, 6 Nov. 2021 In fact, Smith did in America what Agnès b. was doing in France—turning a fashion brand into an anti-haute, pro-art, super-hip egalitarian statement. — Laura Jacobs, WSJ, 12 June 2021 The Fre — a Taylor Mac fable about the costs of escaping a homophobic, anti-art background — took place in a ball pit. — Helen Shaw, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2021 In July, the American Alliance of Museums (AAM) released findings of its survey of 760 museum directors, including those from non-art institutions, confirming the extent of the economic toll caused by pandemic closures. — Jennifer G. Wolcott, The Christian Science Monitor, 14 Sep. 2020 That's an opportunity for cities to collaborate with the agency to make their road art street-legal. — Scottie Andrew, CNN, 11 Oct. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'art.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

History and Etymology for art

Noun

Middle English, "craft, principles of a craft or a field of knowledge, one of the seven fields of study comprising the medieval school curriculum, practical knowledge, code of behavior," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, "skill, craft, knowledge, deceit, sorcery," borrowed from Latin art-, ars "acquired skill, craftsmanship, stratagem, behavior (in plural artēs), systematic body of knowledge and techniques, profession, artistic achievement," going back to Indo-European *h₂r̥-ti- "act of fitting or joining" (whence also, perhaps from an adverbialized locative, Greek árti "just now," arti- "fitting, correct," Armenian ard "just now," Lithuanian artì "close by"), nominal derivative from the verbal base *h₂er- "fit, join" — more at arm entry 3

Note: M. de Vaan (Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the Other Italic Languages, Brill, 2008) also adduces from *h₂r̥-ti- Old Avestan ārəiti- "reward" (Young Avestan aṣ̌i-). Compare, also with zero grade ablaut and -t- suffixes, Sanskrit ṛtáḥ "right, true," ṛtúḥ "fixed time, order, rule." See also article entry 1, artiodactyl.

Adjective

from attributive use of art entry 1

Middle English, from Old English eart; akin to Old Norse est, ert (thou) art, Old English is is

Learn More About art

Dictionary Entries Near art

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Last Updated

1 Jul 2022

Cite this Entry

“Art.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/art. Accessed 3 Jul. 2022.

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More Definitions for art

art

noun

\ ˈärt

Kids Definition of art

1 : works (as pictures, poems, or songs) made through use of the imagination and creative skills by artists the art of the Renaissance

2 : the methods and skills used for creative visual works (as painting, sculpting, and drawing) a teacher of art

3 : an activity (as painting, music, or writing) whose purpose is making things that are beautiful to look at, listen to, or read the performing arts

4 : skill that comes through experience or study the art of making friends

5 : an activity that requires skill Cooking is an art.

ART

abbreviation

Medical Definition of ART

1 accredited record technician The education and training necessary to become an ART (accredited record technician) is available through a two-year associate degree program for medical records technicians at a junior or community college. — The Chicago Tribune

2 assisted reproductive technology A quarter century after the first "test tube" baby, the use of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has risen astronomically.— Anna Mulrine, U.S. News & World Report Nationally, about 107,000 ART procedures—which include IVF and related procedures that consist of the egg and sperm being handled outside the body—are performed.— Helena Oliviero, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

art

abbreviation