manufacture

noun man·u·fac·ture \ ˌman-yə-ˈfak-chər , ˌma-nə- \

Definition of manufacture

1 :something made from raw materials by hand or by machinery

imports most manufactures used by consumers
—D. L. Cohn

2 a :the process of making wares by hand or by machinery especially when carried on systematically with division of labor

the manufacture of automobiles

b :a productive industry using mechanical power and machinery

3 :the act or process of producing something

the manufacture of blood goes on constantly in the human body
—Morris Fishbein

See manufacture defined for English-language learners

See manufacture defined for kids

Examples of manufacture in a Sentence

materials used in the manufacture of cars
We're developing new methods of paper manufacture.

Recent Examples of manufacture from the Web

NASA recommends eclipse glasses made by any of five manufactures that have met its review process, and these makers include their names and contact information on the glasses.

— andy marso and mark davis, kansascity, "Avoid fake eclipse glasses if you want to see after Aug. 21," 3 Aug. 2017
Sterling designs and manufactures folded paper cartons for a number of different industries, including food and beverage, hardware, cosmetic, and pharmaceuticals, and has clients that are large Fortune 500 companies in the U.S. and Canada.

— christopher harress, AL.com, "New jobs and millions in investment roll in to Monroeville," 30 July 2017
Paraffin wax is used in the manufacture of many products, including candles, crayons, and food additives.

— brigit katz, Smithsonian, "Thousands of Mysterious Yellow “Sponges” Wash Up On French Beaches," 21 July 2017
Prototype ships were built there, and a naval surgeon perfected the manufacture of ether for anaesthetics in 1854.

— The Economist, "Man-buns and factory workUrban manufacturing in Brooklyn," 13 July 2017
In the release, police said in recent weeks there were several incidents of overdoses related to the manufacture of methamphetamine at the home.

— amy lavalley, Post-Tribune, "Man faces drug charges after suspected meth lab raid," 12 July 2017
Brad Setser of the Council on Foreign Relations points out that imported manufactures as a share of the Chinese economy peaked in 2003 and have been falling since.

— rich lowry, National Review, "No, China Isn’t Going to Lead," 11 July 2017
The scrap is made from a substance Alcoa Aluminum called 24ST Alclad, which was used in the manufacture of nearly all American planes manufactured in the 1930s — including Earhart’s Lockheed Electra.

— glenn garvin, miamiherald, "Piece of metal may offer clue to disappearance of Amelia Earhart’s plane," 6 July 2017
But Nghia says that his plan is to mass-manufacture this portable, easy-to-assemble design for people in slums, remote areas or refugee camps around the world, beginning later this year, all for the starting price -- $1,500 -- of about two iPhones.

— the new york times, NOLA.com, "A Vietnamese architect's easy-to-erect dwelling for the destitute," 5 July 2017

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

Origin and Etymology of manufacture

Middle French, from Medieval Latin manufactura, from Latin manu factus, literally, made by hand

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1567

See Words from the same year

Other Business Terms

amortize, caveat emptor, clearinghouse, divest, due diligence, emolument, green-collar, marque, overhead, perquisite

manufacture

verb

Definition of manufacture

manufactured; manufacturing \-ˈfak-chə-riŋ, -ˈfak-shriŋ\

transitive verb

1 :to make into a product suitable for use

2 a :to make from raw materials by hand or by machinery

b :to produce according to an organized plan and with division of labor

c :prefabricate

a manufactured home

3 :invent, fabricate

known to manufacture evidence

4 :to produce as if by manufacturing :create

writers who manufacture stories for television

intransitive verb

:to engage in manufacture

—

manufacturability

\-ˌfak-chə-rə-ˈbi-lə-tē, -ˌfak-shrə-ˈbi-\ noun

—

manufacturable

\-ˈfak-chə-rə-bəl, -ˈfak-shrə-bəl\ adjective

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manufacturing

noun

See manufacture defined for English-language learners

Examples of manufacture in a Sentence

materials used in manufacturing cars
a company that manufactures wool and cotton clothing

Recent Examples of manufacture from the Web

The number of Texas oil rigs has been rising over the past year, giving a big lift to exploration and chemical manufacturing jobs.

— conor dougherty and nelson d. schwartz, New York Times, "Hurricane to Cost Tens of Billions, but a Quick Recovery Is Expected," 28 Aug. 2017
Both want to protect manufacturing jobs, support public schools and create better mental-health services.

— gregory s. schneider, Washington Post, "In a polarized Virginia district, differences between the Republican and the Democrat may surprise you," 23 Aug. 2017
Middletown Industrial Boulevard is a filled with various factories, shipping companies and manufacturing operations.

— darcy costello, The Courier-Journal, "Coroner identifies John Deere utility vehicle driver killed Wednesday in Middletown," 18 Aug. 2017
The coming decades brought white flight and disinvestment, starting with the loss of manufacturing jobs in the 1970s and '80s, followed by the foreclosure crisis, evictions and tax delinquencies of today.

— john diedrich, jsonline.com, "'No face, no case': How one man tried to permanently silence the witnesses to his crimes," 18 Aug. 2017
While industrial production rose some 20 percent over the course of that decade, manufacturing employment fell 7.4 percent.

— milton ezrati, National Review, "Globalization Can Be Good for American Workers," 7 Aug. 2017
During the campaign, Trump defended his choice to manufacture his goods abroad by arguing that's just how the American economy works.

— the tylt, AL.com, "Should President Trump and his family make their products in America?," 19 July 2017
Now the DEA is trying to figure out exactly how cars manufactured at the Ford plant in Hermosillo, Sonora, Mexico, were shipped by rail into a CSX yard in Lordstown without someone noticing the weed.

— yesha callahan, The Root, "Shipping Dirty: $1,000,000 in Pot Found Stashed in Ford Fusions Shipped to Ohio From Mexico," 18 July 2017
Aquababes (Czech Republic) The idea of record labels or TV shows manufacturing a girl group is not new, but what happens when the food industry gets involved?

— jeff benjamin, Billboard, "5 Girl Groups From Around the World You Won't Believe Actually Exist," 14 July 2017

Origin and Etymology of manufacture

see ¹manufacture

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1648

See Words from the same year

manufacture Synonyms

Synonyms

fabricate, fashion, form, frame, make, produce

Related Words

assemble, build, construct, erect, make up, put up, raise, rear, set up, structure, throw up; craft, handcraft; hew; forge, mold, shape; cobble (together or up), knock out, patch (together), throw up; prefabricate; create, invent, mint, originate; establish, father, institute, organize; concoct, contrive, cook (up), design, devise, imagine, think (up); conceive, envisage, picture, visualize; refashion, remake, remanufacture

Near Antonyms

disassemble, dismantle, take apart; break up, dismember; abolish, annihilate, demolish, destroy, devastate, eradicate, exterminate, extinguish, flatten, pulverize, raze, ruin, shatter, smash, wreck; blow up, explode

MANUFACTURE Defined for English Language Learners

manufacture

noun

Definition of manufacture for English Language Learners

: the process of making products especially with machines in factories

manufacture

verb

Definition of manufacture for English Language Learners

: to make (something) usually in large amounts by using machines
: to create (something, such as a false story or explanation) by using your imagination often in order to trick or deceive someone

MANUFACTURE Defined for Kids

manufacture

verb man·u·fac·ture \ ˌman-yə-ˈfak-chər \

Definition of manufacture for Students

manufactured; manufacturing

1 :to make from raw materials by hand or machinery

2 :to create using the imagination often in order to deceive

He manufactures excuses for being absent.

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manufacturer

noun

Word Root of manufacture

The Latin word facere, meaning “to make” or “to do,” and its form factus give us the roots fic, fact, and fect. Words from the Latin facere have something to do with making or doing something. To manufacture is to make goods. This is often done in a factory. Something difficult is hard to do. Anything effective does what it is meant to do.