dilettante

[ dil-i-tahnt, dil-i-tahnt, -tahn-tey, -tan-tee ]
/ ˈdɪl ɪˌtɑnt, ˌdɪl ɪˈtɑnt, -ˈtɑn teɪ, -ˈtæn ti /

noun, plural dil·et·tantes, dil·et·tan·ti [dil-i-tahn-tee] /ˈdɪl ɪˈtɑn ti/.

a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, especially in a desultory or superficial way; dabbler.
a lover of an art or science, especially of a fine art.

adjective

of or relating to dilettantes.

Origin of dilettante

1725–35; < Italian, noun use of present participle of dilettare < Latin dēlectāre to delight

SYNONYMS FOR dilettante

1 amateur.

OTHER WORDS FROM dilettante

dil·et·tan·tish, dil·et·tan·te·ish, adjective

Words nearby dilettante

dilator, dilatory, dilaudid, dildo, dilemma, dilettante, dilettantism, dilf, dili, diligence, diligent

Words related to dilettanti

connoisseur, tenderfoot, green, rookie, abecedarian, dabbler, aesthete, tyro, greenhorn, trifler, half-baked, unskilled, dabbling, half-cocked, unaccomplished, nonprofessional

Example sentences from the Web for dilettanti

British Dictionary definitions for dilettanti

dilettante
/ (ˌdɪlɪˈtɑːntɪ) /

noun plural -tantes or -tanti (-ˈtɑːntɪ)

a person whose interest in a subject is superficial rather than professional
a person who loves the arts

adjective

of or characteristic of a dilettante

Derived forms of dilettante

dilettantish or dilettanteish, adjective dilettantism or dilettanteism, noun

Word Origin for dilettante

C18: from Italian, from dilettare to delight, from Latin dēlectāre

Cultural definitions for dilettanti

dilettante
[ (dil-uh-tahnt, dil-uh-tahnt) ]

Someone who is interested in the fine arts as a spectator, not as a serious practitioner. Dilettante is most often used to mean a dabbler, someone with a broad but shallow attachment to any field.