arty I. \ˈär]d.ē, ˈȧ], ]tē, -i\adjective (-er/-est) 1.: imitative often unsuccessfully of art : having some of the showier characteristics of art < no arty or pretentious line ever got into his daily cartoon — James Thurber > 2.: aspiring often unsuccessfully to be artistic : showing dilettante interests : marked by concern with accidental rather than essential characteristics of art < his arty but beautiful wife — V.P.Hass > II. abbreviation artillery