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

Example Sentences

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
There, Bob can be found navigating the waters of Penobscot Bay in his fleet of small craft. Randy Bean, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023 Williams' Lizzy grapples with creative insecurities, while Jo takes a more relaxed approach to her craft. Patrick Ryan, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2023 With it, the craft brought back samples from Ryugu, which are still being analyzed and experimented on to this day. Jackie Appel, Popular Mechanics, 21 Mar. 2023 In addition, the craft of Bentley Ice 84 is a special kind of tough. Maverick Li, Men's Health, 20 Mar. 2023 There is more than enough drama in the world right now, and designers responded by shifting attention from theatrics to clothes, from content creation to craft. Laird Borrelli-persson, Vogue, 15 Mar. 2023 Maye honed her craft in Kansas City, working five nights a week for 11 years at the Colony nightclub, the place on Broadway. Melissa Errico, New York Times, 15 Mar. 2023 Benet senior Shannon Clark is proof that a goalkeeper doesn’t need to be tall to reach the elite ranks of her craft. Matt Le Cren, Chicago Tribune, 10 Mar. 2023 The book honors the craft and contribution of the amateur family photographer, an unsung figure who has for generations captured and preserved the most delicate moments of Black life. Syreeta Mcfadden, The Atlantic, 8 Mar. 2023
Verb
Without a strategic organisational focus to craft a compelling and comprehensive value story, data and analytics will be perceived as an inefficient cost centre that fails to demonstrate a return on its investment. Mike Bugembe, Forbes, 23 Mar. 2023 Located within the lounge, this cozy speakeasy — there is no password required to enter — is home to high-end liquor and a roster of talented bartenders all prepared to craft the perfect cocktail. Jared Ranahan, Travel + Leisure, 22 Mar. 2023 Takoi, a restaurant known for Thai cuisine, uses a delicate number of spices and herbs to craft meals from the Southeast Asian region. Marina Johnson, Detroit Free Press, 22 Mar. 2023 School districts would also be required to craft policies that forbid transgender students from using the restroom tied to their gender identities. Andrea Salcedo, Washington Post, 18 Mar. 2023 The actor reprised the part in The Two Jakes, which barely hints at screenwriter Robert Towne's ambition to craft a secret history of Los Angeles across Gittes' career. Ew Staff, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2023 After helping craft the band’s 2000s dominance with Cork Tree, Infinity on High, and Folie à Deux, Avron became an in-demand, Grammy-winning producer for musical-theater soundtracks. Vulture, 17 Mar. 2023 The public safety solutions office is gathering data to craft a plan tailored to the Bachman Lake community. María Ramos Pacheco, Dallas News, 14 Mar. 2023 Districts also would be required to craft bathroom policies after having a public comment period. Olivia Krauth, The Courier-Journal, 14 Mar. 2023 See More

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.

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 29 Mar. 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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