craftsman
Americannoun
-
craftsmen
plural
-
a person who practices or is highly skilled in a craft; artisan.
- Synonyms:
- handicraftsman, artificer
-
an artist.
noun
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a member of a skilled trade; someone who practises a craft; artisan
-
Also called: craftswoman. an artist skilled in the techniques of an art or craft
Gender
Is craftsman gender-neutral? See -man.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of craftsman
First recorded in 1325–75; Middle English craftes man “man of skill,” earlier craftman; compare Old English cræftiga “craftsman, workman” (derivative of cræftig “skilled”; see crafty)
Compare meaning
How does craftsman compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Vocabulary lists containing craftsman
History of India - Introductory
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African History - Introductory
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History of India - Middle School and High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
You are well-known as both an architect and a craftsman.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 16, 2026
The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland has awarded £2,779 to master craftsman Thomas Keyes to conduct an experimental archaeology project later this year.
From BBC ● Mar. 25, 2026
In a dimly lit workshop in eastern China, craftsman Zhang measured and shaped a block of wood into a foot as dozens of half-completed life-sized Buddha statues looked on silently.
From Barron's ● Jan. 19, 2026
And items made by silversmiths may have their own special mark: A piece made by renowned American craftsman Paul Revere, for instance, will be marked “Revere.”
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 31, 2025
This is certainly no ordinary craftsman here, and we may also wonder whether this is really his working outfit.
From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson
That’s because a team of on-site craftsmen must work hands-on with them to validate the designs and make sure everything looks and feels up to snuff.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026
"Not a single blow is random," he explains as a trio of craftsmen land expert strikes that create the darker more complex tones so prized by jazz drummers.
From Barron's ● Aug. 6, 2026
He was elected twice to lead the Guild of St. Luke, a group of painters and related craftsmen.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
The grand palace in the luxury Palmeraie neighbourhood of Marrakech has been described as an architectural masterpiece, built by 1,300 craftsmen and featuring ornate carvings and mosaics.
From BBC ● Feb. 27, 2026
This is utterly different from the way craftsmen like Haydn saw their art.
From "The Story of Music" by Howard Goodall
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
