handwork

noun

hand·​work ˈhand-ˌwərk How to pronounce handwork (audio)
: work done with the hands and not by machines : handiwork
handworker noun

Examples of handwork in a Sentence

She wore a beaded dress that required many hours of handwork.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In total, the look required 4,340 hours of handwork. Catherine Santino, PEOPLE, 6 May 2026 Other hearty greens, like collards and mustard greens, can benefit from a little handwork, too. Zoe Denenberg, Bon Appetit Magazine, 23 Apr. 2026 The building trains you to think in epochs and extinction events, not hemlines or handwork. Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 30 Dec. 2025 How it’s played, the tone of the instrument and handwork of the drummer help tell a story that’s illustrated through movement. Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for handwork

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of handwork was before the 12th century

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Cite this Entry

“Handwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handwork. Accessed 17 May. 2026.

Kids Definition

handwork

noun
hand·​work ˈhan-ˌdwərk How to pronounce handwork (audio)
: work done with the hands and not by machine
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