Matisse ma·tisse US/ˈmætis/ uncommon noun 1. French painter and sculptor; leading figure of Fauvism (1869-1954) SynonymsHenri MatisseHenri Emile Benoit Matisse Related words Broader terms painter WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved.