craft

1 of 2

noun

plural crafts
1
: skill in planning, making, or executing : dexterity
"We have not the strength with which to fight this man; we must … win, if win we can, by craft."Jack London
2
a
: an occupation, trade, or activity requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill
the carpenter's craft
the craft of writing plays
crafts such as pottery, carpentry, and sewing
He learned the craft as an apprentice.
b
crafts plural : articles made by craftspeople
a store selling crafts
a crafts fair
3
: skill in deceiving to gain an end
used craft and guile to close the deal
4
: the members of a trade or trade association
5
plural usually craft
a
: a boat especially of small size
b

craft

2 of 2

verb

crafted; crafting; crafts

transitive verb

: to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity
She is crafting a new sculpture.
a carefully crafted story
crafter noun
Choose the Right Synonym for craft

art, skill, cunning, artifice, craft mean the faculty of executing well what one has devised.

art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power.

the art of choosing the right word

skill stresses technical knowledge and proficiency.

the skill of a glassblower

cunning suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing.

a mystery plotted with great cunning

artifice suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature.

believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice

craft may imply expertness in workmanship.

the craft of a master goldsmith

Examples of craft in a Sentence

Noun never hesitated to resort to craft to get what they wanted in life borrowed a craft to get across the river Verb The furniture is crafted from bamboo. He is crafting a new sculpture. She crafted a strategy to boost the company's earnings.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
And all the better when the craft makes a simple, affordable addition to your holiday decor. Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Nov. 2023 The cast comprises Uruguayan and Argentine actors, most of whom are newcomers to the craft. Paul Grein, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2023 Depending on the season, visitors can learn about traditional crafts, enjoy festivals held on-site, or head out for bird-watching, canoeing, or snowshoeing. Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 16 Nov. 2023 Equipped with a 252 kWh battery, the craft is also the first in its segment to offer a range of up to 54 nautical miles. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 16 Nov. 2023 Lena learned the craft through her sister, a weaver at Le Costantine working under one of its founders, Giulia Starace. Sebastian Cabrices, Vogue, 14 Nov. 2023 The craft that crashed was an MH-60 helicopter, the officials said. Luis Martinez, ABC News, 12 Nov. 2023 Her brother Terry was the Tampa Bay Times’ outdoors editor for more than 25 years Susan isn’t the only sibling to master their craft — as her brother Terry was a prolific journalist. Emily Weaver, Peoplemag, 4 Nov. 2023 This sleek machine crafts perfect cappuccinos, lattes, and espressos right at home. Mia Meltzer, Rolling Stone, 2 Nov. 2023
Verb
Talk to me about crafting your vocal arrangements and background harmonies? Kyle Denis, Billboard, 17 Nov. 2023 City officials said the exemptions will be carefully crafted to prevent abuse. David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 Nov. 2023 Here, mementos crafted from the bottom inch of Christmas trees from years past dangle between the boughs. Kaylei Fear, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Nov. 2023 This was crafted into a series of parallel plates with gaps in between them, which allowed fluid to flow through the device. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 16 Nov. 2023 Featuring a high waist and loose leg fit, they are crafted from a special material blend for breathability, moisture-wicking, and flexibility. Kathy Barr, Rolling Stone, 15 Nov. 2023 Spanning 40 by 50 mm, the sizable case is crafted from 18-karat rose gold and titanium. Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 Nov. 2023 The package crafted by U.S. Senate Finance chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) and Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) is slated to be marked up on Nov. 8 and includes policy on a broad range of health care priorities, including substance abuse and mental health care, and extensions to provider pay. Ed Silverman Reprints, STAT, 3 Nov. 2023 The plot is being kept under wraps, but Baker is known for crafting low-budget features examining people overlooked by society that emerge as critical hits and awards contenders. Aaron Couch, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Nov. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'craft.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, strength, skill, from Old English cræft; akin to Old High German kraft strength

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near craft

Cite this Entry

“Craft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/craft. Accessed 2 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

craft

1 of 2 noun
1
: skill in planning, making, or doing
2
a
: an occupation requiring skill in using the hands : trade
b
plural : articles made by craftspeople
a store selling crafts
3
: skill in deceiving to gain an end
4
: the members of a trade
5
plural usually craft
a
: a boat especially of small size
b

craft

2 of 2 verb
: to make by or as if by hand
crafted a sculpture
a carefully crafted story
crafter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on craft

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