painter

1 of 3

noun (1)

paint·​er ˈpān-tər 

: one that paints: such as

a

: an artist who paints

b

: one who applies paint especially as an occupation

painter

2 of 3

noun (2)

pain·​ter ˈpān-tər 

: a line used for securing or towing a boat

painter

3 of 3

noun (3)

pain·​ter ˈpān-tər 

: cougar sense 1

Examples of painter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Don’t worry about limitations in talent, as not every painter can be an old master. —Magi Helena, Dallas Morning News, 19 Feb. 2026

The Chicago Sun-Times reported that Torres Maldonado, a painter, entered the United States in 2003 and lived in Chicago with his partner of 20 years. —Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 16 Feb. 2026

Martin is a painter who has put his art on hold to do gardening work for Laura’s rich friends. —David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 Feb. 2026

The late Cuban modernist painter, whose boundary-blurring art explored his complex Afro-Asian Latino heritage, is currently having his largest-ever American retrospective at New York’s Museum of Modern Art. —Stephanie Sporn, Vogue, 15 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English paynter, probably from Middle French dialect (Normandy) pentoir, penteur clothesline, from pendre to hang — more at pendant

Noun (3)

alteration of panther

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

circa 1764, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing painter

• painter's colic

Rhymes for painter

• fainter

Kids Definition

painter

1 of 3 noun

paint·​er ˈpānt-ər 

: one that paints

especially : an artist who paints

painter

2 of 3 noun

pain·​ter

: a line used for attaching or towing a boat

painter

3 of 3 noun

pain·​ter

: cougar

Etymology

Noun

from paint (verb) and -er (noun suffix)

Noun

Middle English paynter "a line used for securing a boat," probably from early French pentoir, penteur "clothesline"

Noun

an altered form of panther