craft

American  

[kraft, krahft] / kræft, krɑft /

noun

crafts plural

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

Synonym Usage

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

The range of those achievements said something about his blend of music-nerd craft and pop-star razzle-dazzle.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

Qantas later said the first craft would be delivered at the end of 2026.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

It is the sovereign people alone who can craft entrenched rules.

From Slate • May 26, 2026

The Mengzhou craft will replace the ageing Shenzhou line, and will carry China's astronauts to the Moon.

From Barron's • May 24, 2026

I had to tackle a whole couch cover and still wanted to work on my craft room.

From "Hope Springs" by Jaime Berry

Related Words

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