noun
aesthetics
ehs-THEHT-ihks
noun
1
The branch of philosophy concerned with beauty, art, and taste.
"She studied aesthetics as part of her philosophy degree."
"Ancient Greek aesthetics still shapes how we talk about art today."
2
The particular visual style or set of design choices behind something.
"The film’s aesthetics owe a lot to 1980s science fiction."
"The new logo clashes with the brand’s usual aesthetics."
How to Use Aesthetics
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither the academic study of beauty and art, or, more casually, the overall look/style of something.
Common pairings
modern aesthetics
visual aesthetics
a study of aesthetics
Word Forms
aesthetics plural
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Etymology
From aesthetic plus the noun-forming ending -ics, on the model of words like "physics" or "ethics."