painter

1 of 3

noun (1)

paint·​er ˈpān-tər How to pronounce painter (audio)
: one that paints: such as
a
: an artist who paints
b
: one who applies paint especially as an occupation

painter

2 of 3

noun (2)

pain·​ter ˈpān-tər How to pronounce painter (audio)
: a line used for securing or towing a boat

painter

3 of 3

noun (3)

pain·​ter ˈpān-tər How to pronounce painter (audio)
: cougar sense 1

Examples of painter in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The Fort Worth Circle, a group of midcentury painters, put the community on the contemporary-art map. — Christine Lennon, Condé Nast Traveler, 30 Aug. 2026 New styles for men include relaxed straight painter jeans, baggy cargo and barrel fits and low-rise baggy jeans with drawstring waists. — Angela Velasquez, Footwear News, 28 Aug. 2026 Zavataro has organized exhibitions centering interdisciplinary artist Linda Alterwitz, landscape painter Phyllis Shafer and sculptor Guillermo Bert, among others. — News Desk, Artforum, 28 Aug. 2026 During her school years, she was mentored by the Japanese painter Kakei Hibino and later went to the Kyoto Municipal School of Arts and Crafts to study traditional Japanese painting. — Kaori Kaneko, USA Today, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for painter

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

Middle English paynter, probably from Middle French dialect (Normandy) pentoir, penteur clothesline, from pendre to hang — more at pendant entry 1

Noun (3)

alteration of panther

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

circa 1764, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of painter was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing painter

Rhymes for painter

See All Rhymes for painter

Browse Nearby Words

painted turtle
painter
painter's brush
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Painter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painter. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

painter

1 of 3 noun
paint·​er ˈpānt-ər How to pronounce painter (audio)
: one that paints
especially : an artist who paints

painter

2 of 3 noun
pain·​ter
: a line used for attaching or towing a boat

painter

3 of 3 noun
pain·​ter
: cougar
Etymology

Noun

from paint (verb) and -er (noun suffix)

Noun

Middle English paynter "a line used for securing a boat," probably from early French pentoir, penteur "clothesline"

Noun

an altered form of panther

More from Merriam-Webster on painter

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about painter

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