craft

noun

\ ˈkraft

Definition of craft

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

2a : an occupation or trade 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 : aircraft

c : spacecraft

craft

verb

crafted; crafting; crafts

Definition of craft (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

: to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity She is crafting a new sculpture. a carefully crafted story

Other Words from craft Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about craft

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Choose the Right Synonym for craft

Noun

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

the craft of cabinetmaking was much admired in colonial times 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

Kill them with knowledge. Kill them with your craft and your passion, and just your persona. — Amanda Mitchell, Marie Claire, "How RHONY's Barbara Kavovit Shattered The Glass Ceiling Of The Construction Industry," 29 Jan. 2019 But Ruiz remained focused and honed her craft: Writing, performing, producing, connecting, hustling, and believing in herself. — Jasmin Hernandez, Harper's BAZAAR, "Nomi Ruiz on Making Art That Means Something," 17 Jan. 2019 Someone with Instagram-flawless contouring might have honed her craft using the finest from the drugstore aisles, and the utterly makeup-free type might be spending thousands on laser treatments and serums. — Cristina Mueller, Glamour, "I Spend $4,800 a Year on Life Coaches, and It’s Honestly Changed My Life," 17 Jan. 2019 Jump rope demonstrations and activities, craft activities, blood pressure screenings, information booths, jump rope giveaways, live music and food. — Rasputin Todd, Cincinnati.com, "Things to do this week in Cincinnati: June 25-July 1," 25 June 2018 Presidio Officers’ Club, 50 Moraga Ave., S.F.. www.presidio.gov Marin Country Mart Farmer’s Market With face painting, kid’s music/story time, arts and craft activities, pony rides, live music, produce vendors. — Chronicle Staff Report, San Francisco Chronicle, "Kids listings," 14 June 2018 The event will also include live music, opportunities to take pictures with the RB Historical Society’s mud wagon, craft activities for children and face painting. — Elizabeth Marie Himchak, Rancho Bernardo, "Rancho Bernardo Memorial Day events include pancakes and ceremony," 24 May 2018 There will also be a number of arts and craft activities. — Shawn R. Beals, Courant Community, "Annual Kids Safety Day Saturday In Middletown Will Feature Former Patriots, UConn Players," 16 May 2018 The middle Cambridge child is said to be a fan of arts and crafts. — Erica Gonzales, Harper's BAZAAR, "Prince William Joked That Prince George Would "Never Forgive" Him If He Forgot a Certain Souvenir," 10 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

To craft a custom home while staying within her budget, Bhasin wove in vintage furniture and accessories, much of which were repainted or reupholstered. — Lucia Tonelli, ELLE Decor, "An Uninspired NYC Apartment Is Revived With Color, Charisma, and Customization," 17 Jan. 2019 In Katowice, Poland, representatives from across the globe gathered to craft a global consensus around cutting emissions at the COP24 talks. — Patrick Sisson, Curbed, "As cities confront climate change, is density the answer?," 11 Dec. 2018 When women searched through emoji options to craft the perfect visual message, there used to be a glaring absence: a flat feminine shoe. — Chloe Foussianes, Town & Country, "With This New Ballet Flat Emoji, Women Finally Have a Comfortable Digital Shoe," 9 Nov. 2018 Furman makes the gravy, and Council uses B’s lard to craft her famous buttermilk biscuits, sometimes stuffed with sticky cinnamon sugar and draped with icing, sometimes snuggled up against fried chicken or topped with homemade apple butter. — Hilary Cadigan, Bon Appetit, "The Unmistakable Bryan Furman, Georgia’s New King of Barbecue," 25 June 2018 Whether the predictions come true, and how, is revealed in four meticulous sections, each well-crafted enough to stand alone. — Sam Gillette, PEOPLE.com, "Jimmy Fallon Starts His Very Own Summer Book Club – and We're All Invited to Join," 23 June 2018 President Donald Trump’s special adviser and son-in-law, Jared Kushner, is in the Middle East this week trying to craft an international aid package to alleviate the suffering. — NBC News, "Why Palestinians risk their lives to protest near Gaza-Israel fence," 21 June 2018 June’s reunion with Hannah was also a difficult scene to craft, though for obviously different reasons. — Laura Bradley, HWD, "The Handmaid’s Tale Writer Breaks Down the Series’s Most Brutal Episode Yet," 20 June 2018 The center would host cooking classes that didn't break the bank, and helped people learn how to craft meal plans that nourished their bodies while accommodating pesky diet restrictions. — Jessica Suriano, azcentral, "Gordon Ramsay's 'MasterChef' features two Arizona chefs vying for $250,000," 13 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'craft.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near craft

Statistics for craft

Last Updated

13 Feb 2019

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Time Traveler for craft

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

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More Definitions for craft

craft

noun

English Language Learners Definition of craft

(Entry 1 of 2)

: an activity that involves making something in a skillful way by using your hands

: a job or activity that requires special skill

: objects made by skillful use of the hands

craft

verb

English Language Learners Definition of craft (Entry 2 of 2)

: to make or produce (something) with care or skill

See the full definition for craft in the English Language Learners Dictionary

craft

noun

\ ˈkraft

Kids Definition of craft

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : skill in making things especially with the hands

2 : an occupation or trade requiring skill with the hands or as an artist Carpentry is a craft.

3 plural usually craft : a boat especially when of small size

4 plural usually craft : aircraft

5 : skill and cleverness often used to trick people What he lacked in speed … was more than made up for by his craft …— Robert Lawson, Rabbit Hill