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

Spanish-American art historian Salvador Salort-Pons has announced the discovery of a previously unattributed portrait by Spanish Baroque painter Diego Velázquez. — Theo Belci, Artforum, 7 July 2026

His grandfather, Detlev Freiherr von Hadeln, was a prominent art historian of the Venetian Renaissance; his father, Harry, founded an art publishing company in Florence, Italy; and his mother, Alexandra Balaceano, was a sculptor and painter. — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 6 July 2026

Salvador Salort-Pons, the director of the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA), recently revealed the discovery of a portrait by Diego Velázquez made during the artist’s earliest years as a court painter to King Philip IV. — Maximilíano Durón, ARTnews.com, 6 July 2026

Alongside his acting career, Baker had, by the 1970s, established himself as a painter and sculpture with exhibitions in prominent galleries in Los Angeles, New York, and New England. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 4 July 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