Expert vs. Connoisseur — What's the Difference?

An expert is somebody who has a broad and deep competence in terms of knowledge, skill and experience through practice and education in a particular field. Informally, an expert is someone widely recognized as a reliable source of technique or skill whose faculty for judging or deciding rightly, justly, or wisely is accorded authority and status by peers or the public in a specific well-distinguished domain.

A connoisseur (French traditional, pre-1835, spelling of connaisseur, from Middle-French connoistre, then connaître meaning 'to be acquainted with' or 'to know somebody/something') is a person who has a great deal of knowledge about the fine arts; who is a keen appreciator of cuisines, fine wines, and other gourmet products; or who is an expert judge in matters of taste. In many areas, the term now has an air of pretension, and may be used in a partly ironic sense.

A person with a high degree of skill in or knowledge of a certain subject.

An expert judge in matters of taste

Having, involving, or demonstrating skill in or knowledge of a certain subject.

A person with expert knowledge or training, especially in the fine arts.

Extraordinarily capable or knowledgeable.

A person of informed and discriminating taste

Characteristic of an expert.

A specialist in a given field whose opinion is highly valued, especially in one of the fine arts or in matters of taste.

(obsolete) Proven, experienced, veteran.

One well versed in any subject; a skillful or knowing person; a critical judge of any art, particulary of one of the fine arts.

A person with extensive knowledge or ability in a given subject.

An expert able to appreciate a field; especially in the fine arts

(chess) A player ranking just below master.

Taught by use, practice, or experience, experienced; having facility of operation or performance from practice; knowing and ready from much practice; clever; skillful; as, an expert surgeon; expert in chess or archery.

An expert or experienced person; one instructed by experience; one who has skill, experience, or extensive knowledge in his calling or in any special branch of learning.

A specialist in a particular profession or department of science requiring for its mastery peculiar culture and erudition.

A sworn appraiser.

To experience.

A person with special knowledge or ability who performs skillfully

Having or showing knowledge and skill and aptitude;