craft

American  

[kraft, krahft] / kræft, krɑft /

noun

plural

crafts, craft

1. an art, trade, or occupation requiring special skill, especially manual skill.

   the craft of a mason.

2. skill; dexterity.

   The silversmith worked with great craft.

   Synonyms:

   ability, talent

3. skill or ability used for bad purposes; cunning; deceit; guile.

   Synonyms:

   deception, deceitfulness, shrewdness, craftiness

4. the members of a trade or profession collectively; a guild.

5. a ship or other vessel.

6. a number of ships or other vessels taken as a whole.

   The craft were warned of possible heavy squalls.

7. aircraft collectively.

8. a single aircraft.

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adjective

1. noting or relating to a food or other product made with special skill, especially manual skill.

   craft beer; craft coffee; a line of craft furniture.

verb (used with object)

1. to make or manufacture (an object or product) with skill and careful attention to detail.

craft British  

/ krɑːft /

noun

1. skill or ability, esp in handiwork

2. skill in deception and trickery; guile; cunning

3. an occupation or trade requiring special skill, esp manual dexterity

4. 1. the members of such a trade, regarded collectively

   2. ( as modifier )

      a craft guild

5. a single vessel, aircraft, or spacecraft

6. (functioning as plural) ships, boats, aircraft, or spacecraft collectively

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verb

1. (tr) to make or fashion with skill, esp by hand

Related Words

See cunning.

Other Word Forms

• craftless
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of craft

First recorded before 900; Middle English; Old English cræft “strength, skill”; cognate with German Kraft, Dutch kracht, Old Norse kraptr

Explanation

If someone practices a craft, it means that she knows how to make something with her hands, like wooden furniture or hand-knit socks. There are many different meanings of the word craft, but most of them involve skill, whether it's the craft of cheese making or crafting tiny dollhouse furniture or being crafty — good at fooling people. Another meaning of the noun craft is "vehicle," especially a boat or an airplane. The Old English root word, cræft, originally meant "power or physical strength."

Example Sentences

Bafta Scotland awarded him the Outstanding Contribution to Craft prize in 2017 in recognition of his work.

From BBC • Apr. 8, 2026

He co-founded Gramercy Tavern in 1994 and is celebrating 25 years of his legendary Manhattan restaurant, Craft.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Venture capitalist David Sacks’ company, Craft Ventures, also announced in December that it has opened a new satellite office in Austin.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026

Labour MPs Matt Bishop and Jen Craft are due to meet with Boydell later to discuss security at the hotel chain.

From BBC • Mar. 16, 2026

She told them the story of William and Ellen Craft and how they escaped from Georgia.

From "Harriet Tubman: Conductor on the Underground Railroad" by Ann Petry

Related Words

• aircraft
• airplane
• barge
• boat
• plane
• ship
• spacecraft
• vessel