handiwork

noun

hand·​i·​work ˈhan-di-ˌwərk How to pronounce handiwork (audio)
-dē-
1
a
: work done by the hands
b
: work done personally
recognized her handiwork
2
: the product of handiwork

Examples of handiwork in a Sentence

They admired the potter's beautiful handiwork. I think all of these problems are her handiwork.
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.
Now, every year, roughly 150 artists are selected from more than 700 applicants around the globe to come to Santa Fe and sell their handiwork. Chadd Scott, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025 Fever fans took to social media to enjoy their handiwork. Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025 Which is to say, the recipes and ingredients are each assembled with care, by cooks who put their name on their handiwork. Matthew Korfhage, Wired News, 28 May 2025 Diana Heron is another local who has seen her handiwork on celebrities. Hannah Vanbiber, New York Times, 1 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for handiwork

Word History

Etymology

Middle English handiwerk, from Old English handgeweorc, from hand + geweorc, from ge- (collective prefix) + weorc work — more at co-

First Known Use

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

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

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Cite this Entry

“Handiwork.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/handiwork. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

handiwork

noun
hand·​i·​work ˈhan-di-ˌwərk How to pronounce handiwork (audio)
: work done by the hands or by oneself

More from Merriam-Webster on handiwork

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