Artiste

An artiste is a person who practices an art, with particular emphasis on the performing arts. In English, the term is borrowed from French and most often refers to a professional performer—such as an actor, dancer, singer, musician, magician, or comedian—someone who works in live performance, film, or television. In French, artiste is a general designation for an artist, including painters, sculptors, and other creators.

Etymology and usage notes: Artiste comes from the French word for artist, itself derived from the Latin ars, artis (art). In English, the word can carry a neutral or respectful sense of professional craft, but it may also convey a somewhat stylistic or pretentious tone in certain contexts, especially when used as a label for a performer who emphasizes image as much as skill.

Differences from related terms: Artist in English more often refers to someone who creates visual art or engages in broad artistic practice, while artiste tends to highlight the performer or showman aspect of the craft. In contemporary usage, artistes are found in theatre, cinema, music, and other performance fields, and the term can appear in stage credits, profiles, or critiques. In modern French, artistes may describe practitioners across the arts, with the specific medium usually clarified when necessary.

See also: artist, performing arts, French language.