connoisseur
/ˌkɒn.əˈsɜː/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A connoisseur is a person who knows a lot about food, art, wine, or another subject. They can judge quality carefully because of their experience.
- She is a connoisseur of Indian classical music.
- The restaurant attracts wine connoisseurs.
- He is a real connoisseur of fine chocolate.
Adinary Nuance
A connoisseur is not just someone who likes something. It suggests trained taste and the ability to judge quality well. Use it for art, wine, food, or culture, not for ordinary liking. It is more refined than "fan" or "enthusiast," and closer to "expert" in taste.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- người sành
- Spanish
- conocedor
- Chinese
- 鉴赏家
- Japanese
- 鑑定家
- Korean
- 애호가
Etymology
It came into English from French in the 18th century. The French word came from Latin cognoscere, meaning “to know.”
Common phrases
a wine connoisseura connoisseur of arta connoisseur's eyeconnoisseur taste
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is connoisseur formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal and sounds polished. People use it in writing and careful speech.
- What is the difference between connoisseur and expert?
- An expert knows a subject deeply. A connoisseur has especially refined taste and judgment.
- Can I call someone a connoisseur of movies?
- Yes, if they have strong taste and judge films carefully. It sounds natural in formal writing.