Agency Dictionary

aesthetics

nounPronunciation: /iːsˈθɛtɪks/

In Portuguese: estética

What does “aesthetics” mean?

A set of principles concerned with the nature and appreciation of beauty, artistic taste, and style.

Etymology

From Greek aisthetikos, "of sense perception", from aisthanesthai, "to perceive, to feel". In the 18th century the German philosopher Alexander Baumgarten used the modern Latin aesthetica for a science of sensory knowledge, which he tied to the judgment of beauty; German Ästhetik followed, and English took the word from there. By the 19th century it was established in English as the name of the philosophy of beauty and taste, and later also of the visual style of a work, a period or a brand. The spelling esthetics is an American variant.

Usage note

As the name of the discipline the word takes a singular verb (aesthetics is a branch of philosophy). The singular form, an aesthetic, names a particular style.

Synonyms

style
taste
look
philosophy of beauty

Often confused with

ascetic: Ascetic, which sounds similar, describes a life of severe self-discipline and has no connection with beauty or style.

Word family

aesthetic
aesthetically
aesthete
aestheticism
aesthetician

Rhymes with

athletics
genetics
kinetics
cosmetics
phonetics
prosthetics
poetics

Usage examples

That is also why it can’t perceive aesthetics.

Concepts

Source editions

Where this entry comes from in the Agency editorial.

Words of the same theme

Discursiveadjective: Proceeding by reasoned argument or sequential exposition rather than by immediate visual intuition.
iconnoun: A simplified image that represents a thing by resembling it. In semiotics, a sign that signifies through likeness; in digital interfaces, a small picture that stands for an object or a function.
symbolismnoun: The use of symbols to represent ideas or qualities, and the set of meanings that a form, an image or an object carries beyond its literal sense.
rhetoricnoun: The art of effective and persuasive speaking or writing, especially through strategic linguistic devices.
Tangibleadjective: Perceptible by the sense of touch or capable of being physically grasped and measured in concrete physical reality. It distinguishes concrete material products from virtual or intellectual entities.
Holisticadjective: Characterized by the comprehension of parts as intimately interconnected and explicable only in reference to the whole.
Abyssnoun: A deep or seemingly bottomless chasm, either in physical geography or metaphorical psychological depth. It evokes feelings of unfathomable emptiness or existential peril.
Affectnoun: An expressed or experienced emotion, feeling, or visceral response to a stimulus in psychology and philosophy.
Agapenoun: A selfless, unconditional, and altruistic form of love often associated in theology with divine charity.

Also from these editions: terms

Antithesisnoun: A person, thing, or concept that represents the direct or exact opposite of another.
paperweightnoun: A small, heavy object placed on loose sheets of paper to prevent them from scattering or blowing away.
omissionnoun: The intentional or accidental act of leaving something out or excluding details from a statement or text.
Treatisenoun: A formal, systematic, and comprehensive written work dealing methodically with the principles and evidence of a particular philosophical, scientific, or technical subject.
Maximnoun: A concise statement expressing a fundamental principle, general truth, or practical rule of conduct.
anesthetizedadjective: Deprived of physical sensation or feeling, often used figuratively to describe dullness or emotional apathy.
Authenticitynoun: The quality of being real, genuine, and true to one's own character or stated origins.
baronnoun: A member of the aristocracy, or an influential magnate exercising commanding power in a specific industry.
caffeinenoun: A naturally occurring central nervous system stimulant found in coffee beans, tea leaves, and cacao pods.
Catharticadjective: Providing psychological relief through the open expression and release of strong or repressed emotions.
cinnamonnoun: An aromatic spice obtained from the stripped inner bark of several tree species of the genus Cinnamomum.
commoditynoun: A basic primary good, agricultural staple, or raw material that is interchangeable with other goods of the same type.