Meaning & use
fine arts
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Meanings
nounplural
Art forms such as painting, sculpture, drawing, and architecture that are created mainly for beauty rather than practical use.
Grammar: Takes a plural verb: 'The fine arts are important.' It can also be used as a modifier before another noun: 'fine arts degree'.
Patterns
- the fine arts
- study the fine arts
- a fine arts degree
She studied painting and sculpture at the School of Fine Arts.
The museum has a large collection of the fine arts, including several famous paintings.
He earned a degree in fine arts before becoming an illustrator.
noununcountable
A school or university subject that includes painting, drawing, and sculpture.
Grammar: Used as a subject name, often with a singular verb: 'Fine arts is offered as a major.'
Patterns
- fine arts department
- major in fine arts
- teach fine arts
Fine arts is a popular major at that university.
The fine arts department is putting on an exhibition of student work next month.
She teaches fine arts at a local high school.
Common combinations
- fine arts degree
- He has a fine arts degree from a university in California.
- fine arts museum
- The fine arts museum is free on Sundays.
- school of fine arts
- She was accepted into a prestigious school of fine arts.
- study fine arts
- He went to Paris to study fine arts.
- fine arts collection
- The library has a small fine arts collection on the second floor.
Synonyms and how they differ
- visual arts
- A broader term that includes crafts, design, and photography as well as painting and sculpture.
- art
- A general word for any creative work; 'fine arts' specifically refers to traditional forms like painting and sculpture.
Word family
- fine artist noun
- A person who creates fine art, especially a painter or sculptor.
- fine art noun
- The singular form, often used before another noun: 'a fine art gallery'.
Commonly confused: fine arts or performing arts?
fine arts vs performing arts
Performing arts are forms like dance, theater, and music performed live for an audience; fine arts are mainly visual and created as objects.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'fine arts' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Fine arts' is the standard plural form for the subject of study. 'A fine art' would refer to one specific art form, and 'the fine art' is not used for the general field in this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “fine arts”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.