dilettantish

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dil•et•tante /ˈdɪlɪˌtɑnt, ˌdɪlɪˈtɑnt/   n. [countable] , pl. -tantes, -tan•ti 

/-ˈtɑnti/.  
1. a person who is only superficially interested in an art, activity, or subject of study.

dil•et•tan•tish, adj. 
dil•et•tant•ism, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dil•et•tante  (dil′i tänt′, dil′i tänt′, -tän′tā, -tan′tē), n., pl. -tantes, -tan•ti (-tän′tē), adj. 
n. 

1. a person who takes up an art, activity, or subject merely for amusement, esp. in a desultory or superficial way;
   dabbler.
2. a lover of an art or science, esp. of a fine art.

adj. 

3. of or pertaining to dilettantes.

• Latin dēlectāre to delight
• Italian, noun, nominal use of present participle of dilettare
• 1725–35

dil′et•tan′tish, dil′et•tan′te•ish, adj. 
Synonyms

• 1. amateur.