carpentry

noun

car·​pen·​try ˈkär-pən-trē 

1

: the art or trade of a carpenter

specifically : the art of shaping and assembling structural woodwork

2

: timberwork constructed by a carpenter

3

: the form or manner of putting together the parts (as of a literary or musical composition)

Examples of carpentry in a Sentence

He learned carpentry from his father.

When the carpentry is finished, the cabinets will be installed.

Recent Examples on the Web

Custom millwork may not seem like the easiest route for those tied to a lease or lacking carpentry connections, so there are a few ready-to-ship options that can approximate the look. — Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 25 June 2026

In one of these buildings, a group of men — mainly Malawians and Zimbabweans — are hard at work in a carpentry and upholstery workshop. — Kate Bartlett, NPR, 25 June 2026

Rather than relying on familiar Japanese motifs, such as shoji screens, the interior has been built around traditional timber-framing techniques, using cypress wood processed in Japan and assembled in Paris by Association Daiku, a collective dedicated to preserving Japanese carpentry traditions. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 23 June 2026

Phil Adkins is the president at Adkins & Sons, specializing in windows, doors, siding, and carpentry. — Timothy Dale, The Spruce, 17 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

carpentry

noun

car·​pen·​try ˈkär-pən-trē 

ˈkärp-ᵊm-trē

: the work or trade of a carpenter