artisanal

American  

[ahr-tuh-zuh-nl, ahr-tiz-uh-] / ˈɑr tə zə nl, ɑrˈtɪz ə- /

adjective

1. pertaining to or noting a person skilled in a utilitarian art, trade, or craft, especially one requiring manual skill.

   The men were taught artisanal occupations such as bricklaying and carpentry.

2. pertaining to or noting a high-quality or distinctive product made in small quantities, usually by hand or using traditional methods.

   artisanal cheese;

   an artisanal bakery.

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Etymology

Origin of artisanal

First recorded in 1935–40; artisan + -al ¹

Explanation

Something artisanal is made by hand and very special. The little wooden spoon your sister carved is artisanal, and so is the honey from your neighbors' beehive. This adjective describes things made by artisans, or skilled craftspeople. Artisanal bread might be hand-kneaded and baked in a wood-fired oven, while an artisanal ax is forged by hand in a small blacksmith's shop. Artisanal is from the Latin artitus, "skilled," and a root meaning "art." The word has become so popular that some factory-made snack foods claim to be artisanal; unless a product was crafted by hand in small batches, don't believe it!

Example Sentences

One, Todd Kapostasy’s “Bong Voyage,” about the rise and fall and rise of artisanal glassblower Jason Harris, is narrated by one of his creations and includes such dumb puns as “fine piece of glass.”

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026

These tend to be the people buying $1,700 bassinets that rock their babies to sleep, artisanal food for their dogs, pricey gym memberships, luxury cruises and spots on business-class airplane cabins.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 5, 2026

“This is really embarrassing — my decadent rock and roll lifestyle with the artisanal energy drink,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 18, 2026

Thousands of artisanal miners work daily in precarious conditions in Rubaya's pits, most equipped with simple shovels and rubber boots.

From Barron's • Feb. 1, 2026

Slabs of real smoked salmon, hard-crusted artisanal breads, and a waffle station with every conceivable topping.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman