Main Entry: ar·ti·fact

Pronunciation: \ˈär-ti-ˌfakt\

Function: noun

Etymology: Latin arte by skill (abl. of art-, ars skill) + factum, neuter of factus, past participle of facere to do — more at arm, do

Date: 1821

1 a : something created by humans usually for a practical purpose; especially : an object remaining from a particular period <caves containing prehistoric artifacts> b : something characteristic of or resulting from a particular human institution, period, trend, or individual <self-consciousness…turns out to be an artifact of our education system — Times Literary Supplement>
2 : a product of artificial character (as in a scientific test) due usually to extraneous (as human) agency

— ar·ti·fac·tu·al \ˌär-ti-ˈfak-chə(-wə)l, -ˈfak-shwəl, -chü-əl\ adjective