artisan

noun

ar·​ti·​san ˈär-tə-zən 

-sən

chiefly British ˌä-tə-ˈzan

1

: a worker who practices a trade or handicraft : craftsperson

a skilled artisan

2

: a person or company that produces something (such as cheese or wine) in limited quantities often using traditional methods

—often used before another noun

artisan breads

artisanship

ˈär-tə-zən-ˌship 

-sən-

noun

Did you know?

Artisans aren't the same as artists, but it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference. In the Middle Ages, artisans organized themselves into guilds. In every city each group of artisans—weavers, carpenters, shoemakers, and so on—had its own guild, which set wages and prices, kept standards high, and protected its members from outside competitors. In America, however, most artisans have always been fiercely independent. Today, when factories produce almost all of our goods, artisans usually make only fine objects for those who can afford them. And we now even include food among the artisan's crafts, so you can buy artisanal cheeses, breads, and chocolates—but probably not if you're watching your budget.

Synonyms of artisan

• craftsman

Examples of artisan in a Sentence

They sell rugs made by local artisans.

we visited a re-created 19th-century New England village that features an array of artisans—a cooper, a carpenter, a blacksmith, a potter, a glassblower

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s also a strong element of regionality down at the spa; during its 2009 renovation, local artisans were brought in to design spaces rendered in Swiss pine and silver from San Bernadino, a mountainous village in the canton of Grisons. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Feb. 2026

Sézane’s is made from sage green corduroy velvet, while Toast’s version is hand-stitched by artisans in West Bengal with a pretty sunflower print. —Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 6 Feb. 2026

In the cutting room, Catherine cut a pair of jeans alongside one of Hiut’s longest-serving employees and its newest trainee, while a group of denim artisans shared their paths into the textile industry and emphasized the importance of training and apprenticeships. —Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal, 5 Feb. 2026

Friot said Première Vision remains a must-see for emerging talent, even as her own brand now mostly uses bespoke production and long-standing relationships with French artisans. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 5 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from an Upper Italian equivalent of Italian (Tuscan) artigiano, from arte "craft, art entry 1" (going back to Latin art-, ars) + -igiano, adjective suffix of appurtenance, from Vulgar Latin *-ēs- (going back to Latin -ensis, adjective suffix of place) + Latin -iānus -ian

Note: See note at parmesan.

First Known Use

circa 1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for artisan

• partisan
• bipartisan
• nonpartisan

Kids Definition

artisan

noun

ar·​ti·​san ˈärt-ə-zən 

-sən

: a skilled worker

especially : one (as a carpenter) whose occupation requires skill with the hands