Art — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective abbreviation /ˈärt/

Meaning & Definition of Art

Art (noun)

  1. skill acquired by experience, study, or observation
  2. a branch of learning:
  3. one of the humanities

Art (adjective)

  1. produced as an artistic effort or for decorative purposes

Art (abbreviation)

  1. article
  2. artificial
  3. artillery

Art (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands

    "one of the country's finest practitioners of the art of cabinetmaking"

    similar: craft, handcraft, handicraft, trade
    related: skill, calling, métier, occupation, profession, vocation

  2. subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something

    "while some people see it simply as mindless fun or exercise, there is an art to skateboarding"

    similar: adeptness, adroitness, artfulness, artifice, artistry, cleverness, craft, cunning, deftness, masterfulness, skill, skillfulness
    related: dexterity, ease, finesse, handiness, experience, expertise, expertness, know-how, proficiency, creativity, ingenuity, inventiveness, knowledge, learning, aptitude, bent, flair, gift, knack, talent
    opposite: artlessness, ineptitude, ineptness, maladroitness
    near: amateurishness, awkwardness, clumsiness, crudeness, klutziness, rudeness, inability, inadequacy, inadequateness, incapability, incapacity, incompetence, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficacy, inefficiency

Related Entry: Art house (noun)

Art house is a different word from Art. The synonyms below are for art house, not for art.

  1. as in art theater, cinematheque

    similar: art theater, cinematheque, megaplex, multiplex, plex, fleapit (British), grind house, nickelodeon, drive-in, cinema, playhouse, theater

Related Entry: Art houses (noun)

Art houses is a different word from Art. The synonyms below are for art houses, not for art.

  1. as in art theaters, cinematheques

    similar: art theaters, cinematheques, megaplexes, multiplexes, plexes, fleapits (British), grind houses, nickelodeons, drive-ins, cinemas, playhouses, theaters

Related Entry: Art song (noun)

Art song is a different word from Art. The synonyms below are for art song, not for art.

  1. as in folk song, part-song

    similar: aria, barcarole, blues, chanson, chant, chantey, chorus, croon, descant, folk song, glee, lullaby, madrigal, motet, part-song, pop, rocker, round, roundelay, serenade, standard, ballad, ditty, jingle, lay, lyric, solo, song, vocal, anthem, cantata, canticle, carol, chorale, hymn, noel, psalm, spiritual, dirge, lament, requiem, threnody, hallelujah, paean, drinking song, fight song, torch song, cover, medley, remix

Related Entry: Art songs (noun)

Art songs is a different word from Art. The synonyms below are for art songs, not for art.

  1. as in part-songs, folk songs

    similar: arias, barcaroles, blues, chansons, chanteys, chants, choruses, croons, descants, folk songs, glees, lullabies, madrigals, motets, part-songs, pops, rockers, roundelays, rounds, serenades, standards, ballads, ditties, jingles, lays, lyrics, solos, songs, vocals, anthems, cantatas, canticles, carols, chorales, hymns, noels, psalms, spirituals, dirges, laments, requiems, threnodies, hallelujahs, paeans, drinking songs, fight songs, torch songs, covers, medleys, remixes

Related Entry: Art theater (noun)

Art theater is a different word from Art. The synonyms below are for art theater, not for art.

  1. as in art house, cinematheque

    similar: art house, cinematheque, megaplex, multiplex, plex, fleapit (British), grind house, nickelodeon, drive-in, cinema, playhouse, theater

Related Entry: Art theaters (noun)

Art theaters is a different word from Art. The synonyms below are for art theaters, not for art.

  1. as in art houses, cinematheques

    similar: art houses, cinematheques, megaplexes, multiplexes, plexes, fleapits (British), grind houses, nickelodeons, drive-ins, cinemas, playhouses, theaters

Related Entry: State-of-the-art (adjective)

State-of-the-art is a different word from Art. The synonyms below are for state-of-the-art, not for art.

  1. being or employing the latest concepts, styles, or techniques

    "a medical center that prides itself on being a leader in state-of-the-art microsurgery"

    similar: advanced, avant, avant-garde, cutting-edge, progressive
    related: pioneering, revolutionary, trailblazing, alternative, antiestablishment, nontraditional, unconventional, underground, bizarre, far-out, outré, way-out, fresh, new, novel, original, strange, unaccustomed, unfamiliar, unheard-of, unknown, unprecedented, contemporary, current, hot, mod, modern, modernistic, newfangled, new-fashioned, present-day, red-hot, space-age, ultramodern, up-to-date
    near: conventional, customary, established, orthodox, traditional

  2. being or involving the latest methods, concepts, information, or styles

    "he spent a boatload of money on a state-of-the-art home theater"

    similar: contemporary, current, designer, hot, mod, modern, modernistic, new, new age, new-fashioned, newfangled, present-day, red-hot, space-age, ultramodern, up-to-date, up-to-the-minute
    related: fashionable, happening, in, modish, nouvelle, now, stylish, last, latest, modernized, updated, futuristic, high-tech, latter-day, recent
    opposite: antiquated, archaic, dated, fusty, musty, oldfangled, old-fashioned, old-time, out-of-date, passé
    near: anachronistic, aged, age-old, ancient, antediluvian, hoary, old, venerable, bygone, former, late, olden, past, antique, historic, historical, retro, retrograde, kaput, obsolete, outmoded, outworn, unmodernized, old-world, discarded, disused, moth-eaten, forgotten, remote, ageless, dateless, timeless

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Art

The most common words with a similar meaning to Art:

craft, handcraft, handicraft, trade, adeptness, adroitness, artfulness, artifice, artistry, cleverness, cunning, deftness, masterfulness, skill, skillfulness

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Art

Words with the opposite meaning of Art:

artlessness, ineptitude, ineptness, maladroitness

Related Words for Art

calling, métier, occupation, profession, vocation, dexterity, ease, finesse, handiness, experience, expertise, expertness, know-how, proficiency, creativity, ingenuity, inventiveness, knowledge, learning, aptitude, bent, flair, gift, knack, talent

Near Antonyms of Art

amateurishness, awkwardness, clumsiness, crudeness, klutziness, rudeness, inability, inadequacy, inadequateness, incapability, incapacity, incompetence, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficacy, inefficiency

Origin & Etymology of Art

Middle English, "craft, principles of a craft or a field of knowledge, one of the seven fields of study comprising the medieval school curriculum, practical knowledge, code of behavior," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, "skill, craft, knowledge, deceit, sorcery," borrowed from Latin art-, ars "acquired skill, craftsmanship, stratagem, behavior (in plural artēs), systematic body of knowledge and techniques, profession, artistic achievement," going back to Indo-European *h2r̥-ti- "act of fitting or joining" (whence also, perhaps from an adverbialized locative, Greek árti "just now," arti- "fitting, correct," Armenian ard "just now," Lithuanian artì "close by"), nominal derivative from the verbal base *h2er- "fit, join" arm:3

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Art

Words & Phrases Containing Art

-art, art deco, art form, art glass, art historical

Frequently Asked Questions about Art

What does "Art" mean?

"Art" means skill acquired by experience, study, or observation. As an a noun, an adjective and an abbreviation, it is defined as: skill acquired by experience, study, or observation. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Art"?

Other words for "Art" include craft, handcraft, handicraft, trade, adeptness, adroitness, artfulness and artifice. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Art" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Art"?

There are 40 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Art". Common alternatives include craft, handcraft, handicraft, trade, adeptness, adroitness, artfulness, artifice, artistry and cleverness.

What is the opposite of "Art"?

Antonyms of "Art" include artlessness, ineptitude, ineptness and maladroitness. Near antonyms include amateurishness, awkwardness, clumsiness and crudeness.

How do you use "Art" in a sentence?

Examples of "Art" in a sentence: "one of the country's finest practitioners of the art of cabinetmaking"; "while some people see it simply as mindless fun or exercise, there is an art to skateboarding".

Is "Art" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Art" can be used as a noun, an adjective and an abbreviation, depending on the context.

Is "Art" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As an A1-level word, "Art" is typical of Cambridge A1 Movers (Young Learners), TOEIC Listening & Reading 120+.

How do you pronounce "Art"?

"Art" is pronounced /ˈärt/.