Meaning & use
esthetics
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Meanings
noununcountable
The study or theory of beauty and the appreciation of art and taste.
Grammar: Uncountable; takes a singular verb: Esthetics is a branch of philosophy.
Patterns
- esthetics of something
- esthetics in something
She studied esthetics at university and now works as an art critic.
The esthetics of the building were praised by all the visitors.
His lecture on esthetics was both informative and inspiring.
noununcountable
The set of principles or style that guides the appearance of something, especially in art or design.
Grammar: Often used with 'the' or a possessive: the esthetics of the brand.
Patterns
- the esthetics of something
- something's esthetics
The esthetics of the new phone are minimalist and sleek.
The company changed the esthetics of its logo to appeal to younger customers.
The film's esthetics rely on dark colors and sharp contrasts.
Common combinations
- esthetics of
- The esthetics of the garden were carefully planned.
- esthetics in
- She has a keen interest in esthetics in photography.
- esthetics and
- The course covers esthetics and art history.
Synonyms and how they differ
- aesthetics
- The British spelling; esthetics is the American variant.
Word family
- esthetic adjective
- Relating to beauty or the appreciation of beauty.
- esthetically adverb
- In a way that relates to beauty or taste.
Commonly confused: esthetics or aesthetics?
esthetics vs aesthetics
Same meaning; 'aesthetics' is the British spelling, while 'esthetics' is American.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'esthetics' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Esthetics' is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb, so 'The esthetics of the design is very modern' is correct. Option 1 uses 'esthetics' as a countable noun, which is wrong. Option 2 uses a plural verb with an uncountable noun. Option 4 uses 'esthetics' as a person, which is incorrect.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “esthetics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.