Dilettante - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A dilettante is someone who dabbles in a subject or activity without serious commitment or deep knowledge, often superficially engaging in arts or fields for amusement rather than expertise.
Definition:
A person who cultivates an area of interest superficially or without serious commitment.
Synonyms:
amateur, dabbler, hobbyist
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
expert, professional
Common Collocations:
artistic dilettante, literary dilettante, musical dilettante
Derivatives:
dilettantish, dilettantism
Usage Tips:
Use "dilettante" to describe someone with casual interest rather than deep expertise in a subject.
Common Phrases:
armchair critic, jack of all trades, weekend warrior
Etymology:
From Italian "dilettante," meaning "lover of the arts," derived from "dilettare" (to delight).
Examples:
- 1. She was a dilettante in painting, trying it occasionally but never mastering it.
- 2. His knowledge of philosophy was shallow; he was merely a dilettante.
- 3. The club attracted many dilettantes but few serious scholars.
- 4. Critics dismissed him as a dilettante with no real commitment to music.