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• arts and crafts
  arts and crafts

  noun

  the handcrafting and decoration of especially utilitarian objects.
• Arts and Crafts
  Arts and Crafts

  plural noun

  decorative handicraft and design, esp that of the Arts and Crafts movement , in late nineteenth-century Britain, which sought to revive medieval craftsmanship

arts and crafts

American  

noun

1. the handcrafting and decoration of especially utilitarian objects.

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Arts and Crafts British  

plural noun

1. decorative handicraft and design, esp that of the Arts and Crafts movement , in late nineteenth-century Britain, which sought to revive medieval craftsmanship

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Etymology

Origin of arts and crafts

First recorded in 1885–90

Compare meaning

How does arts-and-crafts compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• arts and crafts vs. craftsman

Example Sentences

"Reminder: HOV occupants need to be actual people, not your arts and crafts project," California Highway Patrol in Haywood posted on their Facebook page on Tuesday.

From Barron's • May 13, 2026

It educates us in many arcane worlds of arts and crafts, quilts, chairs, pickle crocks and other items whose value really can be in the eye of the beholder.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

When she is at home, Fahima said her daughter is "very sassy, very loud, loves singing and dancing", with a love of music, Disney films and arts and crafts.

From BBC • Dec. 13, 2025

Fetching ingredients from a fridge decorated with magnetic letters and arts and crafts, Linda preps homemade guacamole to go with ceviche from the market.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 11, 2025

Some were packed with multicolored spools of string—like for kites or arts and crafts projects.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan