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

• 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

Gaga joins other artists including Sting and Adele, who both recently postponed concerts due to medical reasons. —Megan Cartwright, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Sep. 2025

Revord fielded questions from curious castmates and asked hair and makeup artists to help choose character outfits for their Pinterest board. —Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025

At the same time that show-goers will be recording catwalk antics on their iPhones, the Met will open an exhibition dedicated to an artist often linked to the Surrealists. —Vogue Runway, Vogue, 4 Sep. 2025

Emerging and early-career artists get noticed through Dance Magazine’s 25 to Watch. —Lauren Warnecke, Chicago Tribune, 3 Sep. 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
• escape artist
• flimflam artist/man
• paleo-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