connoisseur

noun

con·​nois·​seur ˌkä-nə-ˈsər 

 also  -ˈsu̇r

1

: expert

especially : one who understands the details, technique, or principles of an art and is competent to act as a critical judge

a connoisseur of music

2

: one who enjoys with discrimination and appreciation of subtleties

a connoisseur of fine wines

connoisseurship

ˌkä-nə-ˈsər-ˌship 

 also  -ˈsu̇r-

noun

Synonyms

• cognoscente
• dilettante [dated]

Example Sentences

Sean "P. Diddy" Combs, now starring in Broadway's A Raisin in the Sun, takes his grooming rituals seriously. "I take a bath around 3 a.m. when I get home to wind down. I'm a bath connoisseur," says Combs, 34. "I have bath salts, bath beads—I can make you the best bath in the world." —Ann Marie Cruz, People, 14 June 2004

Police reporting had made me a connoisseur of auto accidents. Some people could tell a fake Rembrandt from the real thing; I could tell a run-of-the-mill fender bender from a real accident. —Russell Baker, The Good Times, 1989

It was apple juice. Ortiz watched him drink it with all the delicacy of a wine connoisseur sampling new bordeaux. —Tom Clancy, The Cardinal of the Kremlin, (1988) 1989

He was a voracious reader, a strong critic, an art connoisseur in certain directions, a collector of books, but above all he was a man of the world by profession, and loved the contacts—perhaps the collisions—of society. —Henry Adams, The Education of Henry Adams, 1907

She is a connoisseur of African art.

a forthcoming exhibit at the art museum that is eagerly awaited by connoisseurs of ancient Greek pottery

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Recent Examples on the Web

Obsessed, connoisseur, and super-collector are a few others. —Margaux Anbouba, ELLE, 25 May 2023

For coffee connoisseurs and newbies alike, the classic French press is one of the easiest and most satisfying ways to brew fresh and delicious coffee at home. —Nor'adila Hepburn, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 May 2023

My connoisseur friend declared that this isn’t really New York pizza, though, except that the dough is thin and floppy (which is key). —Kara Baskin, BostonGlobe.com, 16 May 2023

Martha Stewart is known as many things: a homemaker, a prisoner, a cannabis connoisseur/friend of Snoop Doggy Dogg. —Vulture, 15 May 2023

Moms and onesie connoisseurs alike rejoiced at the arrival Bumpsuit, the maternity-and-beyond clothing label founded by Australian model Nicole Trunfio. —Danielle Directo-meston, The Hollywood Reporter, 10 May 2023

The incident became the fair’s main event, and the broken shards became the hot new collectible for art connoisseurs hungry for a piece of history. —Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2023

At open cellar events, Franke serves hummus from the Turkish deli in her building and invites visitors — both connoisseurs and natural-wine neophytes — to do blind taste tests. —Malaika Ng Julia Berick Kate Guadagnino Jameson Montgomery Jinnie Lee Monica Mendal, New York Times, 30 Mar. 2023

Owing to the prices, Cucinelli has long been the preserve of the wealthy and connoisseurs. —Jon Caramanica, Town & Country, 28 Feb. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

obsolete French (now connaisseur), from Old French connoisseor, from connoistre to know, from Latin cognoscere — more at cognition

First Known Use

1714, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

connoisseur

noun

con·​nois·​seur ˌkän-ə-ˈsər 

-ˈsu̇(ə)r

: a person qualified to act as a judge in matters of taste and appreciation

connoisseurship

-ˌship 

noun

Etymology

from obsolete French connoisseur "expert," from early French connoisseor (same meaning), from connoistre "to know," from Latin cognoscere "to know" — related to incognito, recognize