Word a Day
dilettante
What does dilettante mean?
dilettante (noun): an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge.
Definition: Princeton WordNet 3.1.
How do you use dilettante in a sentence?
Where does dilettante come from?
From Italian dilettante, present participle of dilettare (“to delight”), from Latin dēlectāre (“to delight”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Test yourself: do you know “dilettante”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “dilettante” mean?
the act of changing into a different form or appearance (especially a fantastic or grotesque one)
Not quite: that's what transmogrification means.
an irrational need or irresistible urge to perform some action, often despite negative consequences
Not quite: that's what compulsion means.
a musical part (vocal or instrumental) that supports or provides background for other musical parts
Not quite: that's what accompaniment means.
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
Right! That's what “dilettante” means.
Learn a word like “dilettante” every day
Word a Day for iPhone quizzes you on a few new words a day and brings each one back for review at growing intervals. Free, no account, no ads.
Coming soon to the App Store