artisan

noun

ar·​ti·​san ˈär-tə-zən How to pronounce artisan (audio)
-sən,
 chiefly British  ˌä-tə-ˈzan
1
: a worker who practices a trade or handicraft : craftsperson
a skilled artisan
2
: a person or company that produces something (such as cheese or wine) in limited quantities often using traditional methods
often used before another noun
artisan breads
artisanship noun

Did you know?

Artisans aren't the same as artists, but it can sometimes be hard to tell the difference. In the Middle Ages, artisans organized themselves into guilds. In every city each group of artisans—weavers, carpenters, shoemakers, and so on—had its own guild, which set wages and prices, kept standards high, and protected its members from outside competitors. In America, however, most artisans have always been fiercely independent. Today, when factories produce almost all of our goods, artisans usually make only fine objects for those who can afford them. And we now even include food among the artisan's crafts, so you can buy artisanal cheeses, breads, and chocolates—but probably not if you're watching your budget.

Examples of artisan in a Sentence

They sell rugs made by local artisans. we visited a re-created 19th-century New England village that features an array of artisans—a cooper, a carpenter, a blacksmith, a potter, a glassblower
Recent Examples on the Web As a business owner, players have to unlock a shop’s potential by hiring other artisans, sourcing raw materials, completing work orders, selling items and also customizing their shops. Gieson Cacho, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Often, that means hiring special artisans who use original rather than replacement materials. Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2024 The documentary will also feature Oscar-winning artisans including cinematographers Robert Richardson and Vittorio Storaro, production designer Dante Ferretti, editor Thom Noble, and hair designer Giorgio Gregorini. Jaden Thompson, Variety, 1 Mar. 2024 How could the artisans have created these wee pieces, including a pendant bearing a pair of bees with pollen, given that the artisans didn’t have magnifying glasses at that time? Jeanine Barone, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2024 Selden cooks are artisans who craft pastas by hand and bake sourdough bread in-house. Detroit Free Press, 15 Feb. 2024 Warrior-poets, artisans who make the eye of a needle look as wide and gaping as the entrance to the Eisenhower Tunnel. Sean Keeler, The Denver Post, 14 Feb. 2024 In the summer last year, Lucio Olmos Morales, the artisan who weaves vanilla on his porch, received a special order. Leila Miller, Los Angeles Times, 5 Feb. 2024 This year could be a sequel. IATSE, which represents 60,000 technicians, artisans and craftspeople who perform a wide variety of non-acting and non-directing jobs for feature films, television shows and streaming programs, has its contract expire on July 31. Chris Isidore, CNN, 21 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'artisan.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Middle French, borrowed from an Upper Italian equivalent of Italian (Tuscan) artigiano, from arte "craft, art entry 1" (going back to Latin art-, ars) + -igiano, adjective suffix of appurtenance, from Vulgar Latin *-ēs- (going back to Latin -ensis, adjective suffix of place) + Latin -iānus -ian

Note: See note at parmesan.

First Known Use

circa 1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of artisan was circa 1538

Dictionary Entries Near artisan

Cite this Entry

“Artisan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/artisan. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

artisan

noun
ar·​ti·​san ˈärt-ə-zən How to pronounce artisan (audio)
-sən
: a skilled worker
especially : one (as a carpenter) whose occupation requires skill with the hands

More from Merriam-Webster on artisan

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!