handiwork

noun

hand·​i·​work ˈhan-di-ˌwərk 

-dē-

1

a

: work done by the hands

b

: work done personally

recognized her handiwork

2

: the product of handiwork

Synonyms

• production
• product
• work
• yield

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

Following Villareal’s handiwork on Illinois’ faux-leather helmets in the Fighting Illini’s October 2024 win over Michigan, Sterling reached out to his contacts at Utah and eventually got in touch with the artist. —Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 12 Sep. 2025

The Nun 2 returns to that formula — Sister Irene is tasked with looking into a string of suicides that seem to be the handiwork of Valak — with a much better sense of pacing and tone than its predecessor. —Emily Palmer Heller, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025

Viral posts present them as a lost civilization’s handiwork; geologists call them nunataks, mountain summits standing above the ice, and, in some cases, glacial horns whose sharp faces were sculpted by erosion. —Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Sep. 2025

Some impressive expressive flourishes—the handiwork of Martyn Lawrence Bullard—distinguish the actor’s Southern California dwelling, starting with some quintessentially mid-mod wood surfaces as well as stone accents across the façade and pool deck. —Will Speros, Architectural Digest, 3 Sep. 2025

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

Rhymes for handiwork

• bodywork
• ironwork
• latticework
• masterwork
• metalwork
• needlework
• openwork
• overwork
• paperwork
• subnetwork
• artwork
• beadwork

Kids Definition

handiwork

noun

hand·​i·​work ˈhan-di-ˌwərk 

: work done by the hands or by oneself