A pickup artist, commonly abbreviated PUA, is a term used to describe a man who is skilled in meeting, attracting, and seducing women. The use of “pickup” in this context, slang for making a casual acquaintance with a stranger in anticipation of sexual relations, dates from at least 1970 and the book How to Pick Up Girls by Eric Weber, and Pick-Up Times, a short-lived 1970s magazine, culminating in the 1987 semi-autobiographical film, The Pick-up Artist, written and directed by James Toback.

The term is also associated with the seduction community, a male subculture based on the goal of improved sexual and romantic abilities with women using self-help and an understanding of social psychology. The term received increased attention in 2005 upon the arrival of Neil Strauss’ bestselling book, The Game: Penetrating the Secret Society of Pickup Artists, also in 2007, from the reality television series, The Pick-up Artist, shown on VH1, starring Mystery, a well-known pickup artist.