aesthete

noun

aes·​thete ˈes-ˌthēt How to pronounce aesthete (audio)
 British usually  ˈēs-
variants or less commonly esthete
: one having or affecting sensitivity to the beautiful especially in art

Examples of aesthete in a Sentence

He regards art critics as a bunch of pretentious aesthetes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His new 432-page tome features more than 2,100 full-color photographs, assembled with the care and attention to detail of a true Rolex aesthete. Victoria Gomelsky, Robb Report, 26 May 2025 By partnering with artists whose vision naturally aligns with brand values, Faena creates engagements where obvious marketing ploys disappear and a genuine visionary aesthete emerges. Lilian Raji, Forbes.com, 22 May 2025 Tennis aesthetes get gooey at the site of the 90-year-old stadium surrounded by the 18 Carrara marble statues. Charlie Eccleshare, New York Times, 12 May 2025 In the hands of Babitz, a radical aesthete, this feels like a tragedy. The New Yorker, New Yorker, 16 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for aesthete

Word History

Etymology

probably derivative of aesthetic entry 1 or aesthetics, on the model of athletics : athlete and similar pairs

First Known Use

1866, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of aesthete was in 1866

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Aesthete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aesthete. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.

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!