This week we continue our vocabulary-building series, “The Closing Word.” Each week we provide a new word to help build your vocabulary and show you an example of how to use it.
This week’s closing word:
dilettante
Pronounced: (DILL-uh-taunt)
Noun:
an amateur who engages in an activity without serious intentions and who pretends to have knowledge
Adjective:
showing frivolous or superficial interest; amateurish
From Vocabulary.com: “The meaning of dilettante has changed since it was borrowed from the Italian in the mid 1700s. Originally, it meant “lover of the arts,” but began to take on a negative slant as the idea of doing something as a professional took hold strongly during the 18th century. A dilettante was a mere lover of art as opposed to one who did it professionally. Today, the word implies you’re pretending to be more of an artist than you’re interested in or capable of being, so if you call your friend who likes to paint a dilettante, it’s like you’re calling him or her a poser.”
Example:
“The dilettante in real estate merely echoes the headlines, while the true professional digs into the stories and trends for a deeper understanding.”
