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
- ace
- adept
- authority
- cognoscente
- connoisseur
- crackerjack
- crackajack
- dab [chiefly British]
- dab hand [chiefly British]
- expert
- fiend
- geek
- guru
- hand
- hotshot
- maestro
- master
- maven
- mavin
- meister
- past master
- proficient
- scholar
- shark
- sharp
- virtuoso
- whiz
- wizard
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
the great artists of the Renaissance a pitcher who is a strikeout artist
Recent Examples on the Web The rim of that volcano is narrow, but a good artist will walk it. 
David Kirby, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Lying on a big bed at a five-star hotel clad in a stupendous Versace Mille Feuille dress, getting ready to trade one suitor—a narcissistic artist—for the formerly infuriatingly unattainable Mr. Big, cut down to size at last. Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2022 Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan takes the intriguing name of its new work from a 1960s street artist in Taipei. Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 According to sources, some of the highest-profile leaks over the past year were not the result of a VFX artist intentionally sharing something online in an insidious attempt to spoil a movie. Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2022 The band’s 50th anniversary jaunt is enhanced by opener St. Vincent, a cutting-edge artist influenced by its sonic and visual sensibilities. Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Being a country artist, Snow said, has inspired him to work harder, to earn the respect of those who don’t like the genre. Palak Jayswal, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 At the same time, Esser was tasked with finding a new artist to design the 2022-23 season’s show posters. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Before becoming a visual artist, Freed played in the alt-country band Dirt Ball. Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2022 See More
David Kirby, WSJ, 9 Sep. 2022 Lying on a big bed at a five-star hotel clad in a stupendous Versace Mille Feuille dress, getting ready to trade one suitor—a narcissistic artist—for the formerly infuriatingly unattainable Mr. Big, cut down to size at last. Lynn Yaeger, Vogue, 8 Sep. 2022 Cloud Gate Dance Theatre of Taiwan takes the intriguing name of its new work from a 1960s street artist in Taipei. Sarah L. Kaufman, Washington Post, 8 Sep. 2022 According to sources, some of the highest-profile leaks over the past year were not the result of a VFX artist intentionally sharing something online in an insidious attempt to spoil a movie. Carolyn Giardina, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Sep. 2022 The band’s 50th anniversary jaunt is enhanced by opener St. Vincent, a cutting-edge artist influenced by its sonic and visual sensibilities. Bob Gendron, Chicago Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Being a country artist, Snow said, has inspired him to work harder, to earn the respect of those who don’t like the genre. Palak Jayswal, The Salt Lake Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 At the same time, Esser was tasked with finding a new artist to design the 2022-23 season’s show posters. Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Sep. 2022 Before becoming a visual artist, Freed played in the alt-country band Dirt Ball. Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 5 Sep. 2022 See More 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
Kids Definition
artist
noun
art·ist ˈär-tist
1
: a person skilled in one of the arts (as painting, music, or writing)
2
: a person who is very good at something
artists
noun
as in scholars
a person with a high level of knowledge or skill in a field a pitcher who is a strikeout artist Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- scholars
- experts
- masters
- adepts
- virtuosos
- gurus
- wizards
- specialists
- professionals
- authorities
- virtuosi
- maestros
- consultants
- hands
- connoisseurs
- craftsmen
- proficients
- hotshots
- past masters
- enthusiasts
- geeks
- cognoscenti
- meisters
- mavens
- aces
- fans
- mavins
- sharks
- fiends
- maestri
- sharps
- dab hands
- pros
- whizzes
- crackerjacks
- crackajacks
- journeymen
- devotees
- dabs
- addicts
- aficionados
- buffs
- hired guns
- mistresses
- afficionados
- all-rounders
- jacks-of-all-trades
- Renaissance men
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- amateurs
- apprentices
- beginners
- novices
- nonexperts
- neophytes
- dabblers
- laymen
- inexperts
- dilettantes
- nonprofessionals
- dilettanti