word
Italian
dilettante
dil-ih-TAHN-tee
ˌdɪlɪˈtæntiListen
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Syllable breakdown
dilettante
Dictionary meaning
A person who cultivates an area of interest casually, without real expertise.
History and origin
Italian — 'dilettare' (to delight), from Latin 'delectare'.
Examples
- He was dismissed as a dilettante by professionals in the field, though his insights proved surprisingly accurate.
Common mispronunciations
DIL-uh-tantdil-eh-TAN-tay
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