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

Filmmakers, artisans and creatives must balance their time between making art and completing busywork, such as reviewing feedback, wrangling files and sharing footage with stakeholders. —Caitlin White, Variety, 23 Jan. 2026

Now three decades later, Sideshow has become the internet’s premier destination for deluxe pop culture collectibles, offering not only statues and figures crafted by Sideshow’s artisans but also a huge range of officially licensed products from artists all over the world. —Robert Lang, Deadline, 23 Jan. 2026

Chocolate Weekend, now in its 15th year, features local artisans, said the arboretum’s special events planner Kate Fitzgerald, and the lead-up to Valentine’s Day is the obvious peg. —Nina Metz, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026

The dinner ware is made by potters and artisans from the area. —Pamela McLoughlin, Hartford Courant, 23 Jan. 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