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artist

Etymology and origin of the English word artist

History Permalink
Confidence
Established
Formation
Borrowing
First attested
c. 1507
Borrowed from
Middle French artiste
Ultimate origin
Latin (ars)

Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /ˈɑː.tɪst/, US /ˈɑːr.t̬ɪst/[1]

Etymology

It is borrowed from Middle French artiste (“artist, artisan, learned man”),[2][3][4] from artista,[2][3] from Medieval Latin artista (“a student or master of the liberal arts”),[4] from Latin ars (“art, skill”), stem art-,[2][3] the source of art.[2]

Earliest recorded meaning

About 1507 in Merriam-Webster,[4] 1581 in Sidney's Defence of Poesie in Barnhart,[3] and the 1580s in Etymonline, as one who cultivates one of the fine arts.[2] The OED's first sense, a master of the liberal arts, is from 1592.[5]

Semantic evolution

At first it was used especially of the arts presided over by the Muses, such as poetry, music and astronomy,[2] and in the 17th century of anyone skilled in an art or craft, including professors, surgeons, craftsmen and cooks.[2] A physician is artist from 1592, an astrologer or alchemist from about 1605,[5] and a man of science from 1667.[5] Since the mid-18th century it has meant especially one who practises painting and the visual arts.[2] Artistic is from 1753,[3] and artistry from 1868, in Browning.[3]

Timeline

  • c. 1507 – first recorded.[4]
  • 1580s – one who cultivates the fine arts.[2]
  • 1592 – a master of arts; a physician.[5]
  • 17th century – a skilled craftsman.[2]
  • mid-18th century – a painter or sculptor.[2]
  • 1753 – artistic.[3]
  • 1868 – artistry.[3]

Modern meaning

Noun

  1. A person who creates works of art, especially a painter or sculptor.
  2. A person whose work shows great skill: an artist with a chisel.
  3. A performer, such as an actor, singer or dancer.
  4. (informal) A person who habitually does something: a con artist.

Word family

  • artiste
  • artistry
  • sidewalk artist
  • pavement artist
  • con artist
  • escape artist
  • quick-change artist
  • trapeze artist
  • art
  • artisan
  • artistic
  • artful

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h Barnhart, Robert K. (1988), The Barnhart Dictionary of Etymology
  4. ^ a b c d Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  5. ^ a b c d Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press

Related etymologies

Cite this entry

“Artist.” Etymologically, 15 Oct. 2026, etymologically.com/en/artist. Accessed 15 Oct. 2026.

Last edited on . ·