craftsman

[ krafts-muhn ]

noun

, plural crafts·men.

1. a person who practices or is highly skilled in a craft; artisan.

   Synonyms: handicraftsman, artificer

2. an artist.

craftsman

/ ˈkrɑːftsmən /

noun

1. a member of a skilled trade; someone who practises a craft; artisan
2. Also calledfemcraftswoman an artist skilled in the techniques of an art or craft

Gender Note

Is craftsman gender-neutral? See -man.

Derived Forms

• ˈcraftsmanˌlike, adjective
• ˈcraftsmanly, adjective
• ˈcraftsmanˌship, noun

Other Words From

• crafts·man·like adjective
• crafts·man·ly adjective
• crafts·man·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of craftsman¹

First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English craftes man “man of skill,” earlier craftman; compare Old English cræftiga “craftsman, workman” (derivative of cræftig “skilled”; crafty )

Example Sentences

It gave him, writes Sykes, “the ability to become his own craftsman.”

From The Daily Beast

There are 17 processes herein, which collectively take four years for a craftsman to master.

From The Daily Beast

A professional craftsman was recruited to build the rowboat.

From The Daily Beast

The artist, instead of a mere craftsman, was beginning to be revered as something quite different.

From The Daily Beast

People take for granted how skilled he was as a craftsman, the simplicity of the writing, and how naturally it came.

From The Daily Beast

A fine piece of woodwork is often spoiled by the amateur craftsman when starting a cut with a saw.

From Project Gutenberg

"You're supposed to be our combination inventor-craftsman," he said to George.

From Project Gutenberg

The reporter did something else which marked him as a craftsman.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps the Homeric chief may have sometimes been a craftsman like the heroes of the Sagas, great sword-smiths.

From Project Gutenberg

A more cunning craftsman than myself has told us that the less we track human life the more cheerily we shall speak of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• artisan