English Reference
noun · adjective

artisan

n. · adj.
US /ˈɑɹtəzən/ UK /ˈɑːtɪsən/ ar·ti·san UK spelling artisan's, artisan's

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    n.a worker who has a special skill at making things with their hands, like furniture or jewellery.

    n.a manual worker who possesses a high degree of skill in a specific craft, typically involving the use of traditional tools.

    Simple

    The local artisan spent three months carving the wooden dining table by hand.

    In context

    The village is famous for its community of artisans who have preserved traditional weaving techniques for over four centuries.

    craftspersonmakerartificer
  2. 02 B2 Upper Intermediate

    adj.made in small amounts using traditional methods and high-quality ingredients.

    adj.produced in limited quantities using traditional, non-mechanized methods; often used to market high-end food or craft products.

    Simple

    We bought some artisan bread and handmade cheese at the farmers' market.

    In context

    The bakery specializes in artisan sourdough, utilizing long fermentation periods and stone-ground flour to achieve a superior texture and flavour.

    mass producedindustrial

From Middle French artisan, from Vulgar Latin *artītiānus, from Latin artītus (“skilled”), past participle of artiō (“I instruct in arts”), from ars (“art, skill”).

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin artītus
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated