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 of artist

• expert
• scholar
• master
• virtuoso
• adept
• wizard
• guru

Examples of artist in a Sentence

the great artists of the Renaissance

a pitcher who is a strikeout artist

Recent Examples on the Web

Spotify users now can access their app for this year's Spotify Wrapped, to see their personalized top artists, songs and genres from the past year. —Samantha Neely, Freep.com, 3 Dec. 2025

Aventura has more 300 stores, 50 restaurants, art installations, dog parks — and attractions like German artist Carsten Höller’s 93-foot-high Aventura Slide Tower. —Howard Cohen, Miami Herald, 3 Dec. 2025

Swift was also the second-biggest artist globally, right behind Bad Bunny. —Rashad Alexander december 3, Kansas City Star, 3 Dec. 2025

The show includes a cocktail hour reception and is headlined by the Bill Wells Band performing holiday classics and songs made popular by Motown artists. —Abby Hamblin, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Dec. 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
• Conceptual artist
• escape artist
• flimflam artist/man
• paleo-artist
• Pop artist
• recording artist

Rhymes for artist

• chartist
• smartest
• bonapartist

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