artifact

especially British, ar·te·fact

[ahr-tuh-fakt]

noun

1. any object made by human beings, especially with a view to subsequent use.

2. a handmade object, as a tool, or the remains of one, as a shard of pottery, characteristic of an earlier time or cultural stage, especially such an object found at an archaeological excavation.

3. any mass-produced, usually inexpensive object reflecting contemporary society or popular culture.

   artifacts of the pop rock generation.

4. a substance or structure not naturally present in the matter being observed but formed by artificial means, as during preparation of a microscope slide.

5. a spurious observation or result arising from preparatory or investigative procedures.

6. any feature that is not naturally present but is a product of an extrinsic agent, method, or the like.

   statistical artifacts that make the inflation rate seem greater than it is.

7. Digital Technology.,  a visible or audible anomaly introduced in the processing or transmission of digital data: Ghosting artifacts in an MRI are usually the result of patient movement during a scan.

   Your computer might need a new graphics card if you see green pixels where you should not, or other graphics artifacts.

   Ghosting artifacts in an MRI are usually the result of patient movement during a scan.

verb (used with object)

1. Digital Technology.,  to introduce a visible or audible anomaly in (an image or audio file) during the processing or transmission of digital data: The video appears to be heavily artifacted.

   Compression may artifact your recording with clicking or echoing sounds.

   The video appears to be heavily artifacted.

artifact

/ ˈɑːtɪˌfækt /

noun

1. a variant spelling of artefact

artifact

1. An object produced or shaped by human craft, especially a tool, weapon, or ornament of archaeological or historical interest.

2. An artificial product or effect observed in a natural system, especially one introduced by the technology used in scientific investigation or by experimental error.

Other Word Forms

• artifactual adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of artifact¹

First recorded in 1815–25; variant of artefact (a spelling first recorded in 1625–50 ) from Latin phrase arte factum “(something) made with skill.” See art ¹, fact

Example Sentences

But it was an artifact of budget politics; the expectation was that Congress would get around to fixing the cheeseparing subsidy schedule at a later date.

From Los Angeles Times

Jimmy travels by boat from their home on the Orkney mainland to investigate and discovers his friend’s body close to an archaeological dig, a nearby stone artifact with spiral carvings the presumed weapon.

From Los Angeles Times

The superintendent confirmed that the memorial artifacts were located “off campus” and then brought back so the memorial could be set up again.

From Los Angeles Times

As science, “Human” acknowledges that what we know is not all that we will know; fossils and artifacts tell us a lot — and suggest a lot more — but it’s not like anyone left a journal.

From Los Angeles Times

The exhibition’s final gallery drives that point home with a flood of artifacts charting the shark’s reach across decades.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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