Arthouse

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A style of filmmaking that emphasizes artistic expression, innovation, and often caters to niche audiences rather than mainstream appeal
2. A form of cinema focused on artistic and unconventional approaches, producing works outside the commercial film industry
3. A type of film or film production known for its creative, experimental nature and limited commercial distribution

Etymology: The word is a compound of "art" and "house," and its literal sense is simple: a cinema, or building, that shows films as art rather than mainstream entertainment. The "house" in the name is the older sense of a building used for a particular purpose, as in "opera house" or "playhouse," and "art" here means the film is valued for its artistic ambitions rather than its commercial appeal. Together the two parts describe a place that screens the more experimental, personal or non-commercial films. Over time the word moved from naming the venue to naming the films themselves. The spelling exists both as two words and as the closed form "arthouse," which is the form most often seen in modern writing. The compound is transparent, so its meaning can be worked out from its parts.

Synonyms: independent, artistic, non-commercial

Antonyms: mainstream, commercial