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 Italian painter, one of his favorites, had drawn inspiration from the city’s vast squares, long arcades and unusual arrangements of light and shadow. — Callum McLennan, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026 These painter’s painters retain a bond to recognizable forms of the real. — Eugenie Brinkema, ARTnews.com, 17 Oct. 2026 Taking photographs is a natural subject for films—we’re already looking—and sometimes even painters operate convincingly (Basquiat’s not bad on this). — Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2026 The Glass Onion star’s elaborate metamorphosis took six hours and a three-person glam team (makeup artist Sasha Glasser, prosthetic and special FX artist Chelsea Delfino, and FX makeup artist and body painter Malina Stearns) to achieve. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 15 Oct. 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
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Cite this Entry

“Painter.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/painter. Accessed 20 Oct. 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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