Dilettante — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈdi-lə-ˌtänt/ dil·et·tante

Meaning & Definition of Dilettante

Dilettante (noun)

  1. a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge, dabbler
  2. an admirer or lover of the arts

Dilettante (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. lacking or showing a lack of expert skill

    "many dilettante efforts could be seen at the sidewalk art show"

    similar: amateur, amateurish, dilettantish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, nonprofessional, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful
    related: curbstone, self-taught, uninitiated, unprepared, unqualified, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored, awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed, crude, defective, faulty, flawed, primitive, unfinished, unpolished, beginning, entry-level, fresh, green, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried, would-be, incapable, incompetent, talentless, unable, unfit, ungifted, untalented
    opposite: ace, adept, consummate, crackerjack, expert, master, masterful, masterly, professional, virtuosic, virtuoso
    near: able, accomplished, capable, competent, dexterous, gifted, habile, handsome, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented, experienced, practiced, seasoned, veteran, educated, fitted, initiated, knowledgeable, prepared, qualified, schooled, taught, trained, tutored, versed, all-around, ambidextrous, versatile, well-rounded, finished, polished, slick

Dilettante (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a person who regularly or occasionally engages in an activity as a pastime rather than as a profession

    "a dilettante at heart, she was never willing to commit the time and effort that ballet demands"

    similar: amateur, dabbler, hobbyist, layman, nonexpert, nonprofessional, potterer, putterer, tinkerer
    related: all-rounder (British), generalist, general practitioner, jack-of-all-trades, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan
    opposite: authority, expert, pro, professional, specialist

  2. a person having a knowledgeable and fine appreciation of the arts

    "she writes about art not from the point of view of an artist but from that of a committed dilettante"

    similar: cognoscente, connoisseur
    related: adept, authority, expert, maestro, master, past master, scholar, virtuoso, critic, reviewer, amateur, dabbler, collector, specialist, aficionado, buff, devotee, enthusiast, fan
    near: groundling, lowbrow, materialist, philistine

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Dilettante

The most common words with a similar meaning to Dilettante:

amateur, amateurish, dilettantish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, nonprofessional, unprofessional, unskilled, unskillful, dabbler, hobbyist, layman, nonexpert, potterer, putterer, tinkerer, cognoscente, connoisseur

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Dilettante

Words with the opposite meaning of Dilettante:

ace, adept, consummate, crackerjack, expert, master, masterful, masterly, professional, virtuosic, virtuoso, authority, pro, specialist

Related Words for Dilettante

curbstone, self-taught, uninitiated, unprepared, unqualified, unschooled, untaught, untrained, untutored, awkward, clumsy, ham-fisted, ham-handed, heavy-handed, crude, defective, faulty, flawed, primitive, unfinished, unpolished, beginning, entry-level, fresh, green, new, raw, unseasoned, untested, untried

Near Antonyms of Dilettante

able, accomplished, capable, competent, dexterous, gifted, habile, handsome, proficient, skilled, skillful, talented, experienced, practiced, seasoned, veteran, educated, fitted, initiated, knowledgeable, prepared, qualified, schooled, taught, trained, tutored, versed, all-around, ambidextrous, versatile

Word Forms of Dilettante

Inflections: dilettantes, dilettanti

Derived words: dilettante (adjective), dilettantish (adjective), dilettantism (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Dilettante

borrowed from Italian, agentive derivative of dilettare "to please, delight," borrowed from Latin dēlectāre delight:2

First known use: 1748

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Dilettante

Frequently Asked Questions about Dilettante

What does "Dilettante" mean?

"Dilettante" means a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge, dabbler. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge, dabbler. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Dilettante"?

Other words for "Dilettante" include amateur, amateurish, dilettantish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, nonprofessional and unprofessional. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Dilettante" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Dilettante"?

There are 78 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Dilettante". Common alternatives include amateur, amateurish, dilettantish, inexperienced, inexpert, jackleg, nonprofessional, unprofessional, unskilled and unskillful.

What is the opposite of "Dilettante"?

Antonyms of "Dilettante" include ace, adept, consummate, crackerjack, expert, master, masterful and masterly. Near antonyms include able, accomplished, capable and competent.

How do you use "Dilettante" in a sentence?

Examples of "Dilettante" in a sentence: "many dilettante efforts could be seen at the sidewalk art show"; "a dilettante at heart, she was never willing to commit the time and effort that ballet demands"; "she writes about art not from the point of view of an artist but from that of a committed dilettante".

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

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

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

As a C2-level word, "Dilettante" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Dilettante"?

"Dilettante" is pronounced /ˈdi-lə-ˌtänt/ and divided into syllables as dil·et·tante.