adjective

artsy

ART-see

Artsy (adjective) means having an obvious artistic style or interest in the arts, especially in a self-conscious or slightly affected way. Example: “The cafe has an artsy crowd and hand-painted walls.”

adjective

informal Having an obvious artistic style or interest in the arts, especially in a self-conscious or slightly affected way.

"The cafe has an artsy crowd and hand-painted walls."

"She took a load of artsy photos of shadows on the pavement."

informal Describing a place, film or object that is creative and unconventional rather than mainstream or commercial.

"It is an artsy little cinema that only shows subtitled films."

How to use artsy

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishArty, or trying to look arty.

When to use it

Informal. Can be admiring or gently mocking depending on tone; artsy-fartsy is always mocking.

Memory tip

Artsy is the usual American form; British speakers more often say arty. Artful means cunning, not artistic.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

arty → artistic → artful →

Common pairings

artsy photo artsy crowd artsy type artsy-fartsy artsy neighbourhood

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The cafe has an _____ crowd and hand-painted walls.

Etymology

From art plus the informal suffix -sy; chiefly North American, alongside the British form arty.

Origin: English

Synonyms

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arty bohemian artistic avant-garde alternative indie offbeat

Antonyms

mainstream commercial

Related words

other economic choice paid commercial cultural weird van

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between artsy and artistic?

Artistic describes real skill or talent in the arts and is a straightforward compliment. Artsy describes the look, taste or atmosphere of art and often carries a hint that the effect is deliberate or affected rather than genuinely accomplished.

Is calling someone artsy an insult?

Not usually. On its own it is fairly neutral or mildly teasing. The compound artsy-fartsy, however, is dismissive and means pretentious.

What is the meaning of artsy?

"artsy" (adjective) means having an obvious artistic style or interest in the arts, especially in a self-conscious or slightly affected way.

What is another word for artsy?

Other words for "artsy" include arty, bohemian, artistic, avant-garde, alternative, indie.

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other economic choice paid commercial cultural weird van