Dilettante
[dil-ə-TAHNT]
Part of speech: noun
Origin: Italian, mid-18th century
1.
A person who cultivates an area of interest, such as the arts, without real commitment or knowledge.
Examples of Dilettante in a sentence
"No one could accuse the artist of being a dilettante."
"Seth had a dilettante-level knowledge of wine compared to the vintner."
About Dilettante
This word is Italian, meaning “person loving the arts,” It stems from “dilettare,” meaning “to delight,” originating from the Latin “delectare.”
Did you Know?
Dilettante has a slightly negative connotation now, but that wasn’t always the case. It used to simply mean “devoted amateur” before the word developed a more derogatory outlook in the 18th century.
