craftsman

American  

[krafts-muhn] / ˈkræfts mən /

noun

plural

craftsmen

1. a person who practices or is highly skilled in a craft; artisan.

   Synonyms:

   handicraftsman, artificer

2. an artist.

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craftsman British  

/ ˈkrɑːftsmən /

noun

1. a member of a skilled trade; someone who practises a craft; artisan

2. Also called: craftswoman.  an artist skilled in the techniques of an art or craft

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Gender

Is craftsman gender-neutral? See -man.

Other Word Forms

• craftsmanlike adjective
• craftsmanly adjective
• craftsmanship noun

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”; crafty )

Compare meaning

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

• arts and crafts vs. craftsman

Example Sentences

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

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

A rarely seen look at the lives of craftsmen behind Meissen porcelain, French Art Nouveau glass and more.

From The Wall Street Journal

Smaller versions are also produced by the city's craftsmen and adorn lamp posts, office buildings and homes across the archipelago nation of 116 million which is home to Asia's largest Catholic population.

From Barron's

Young men became wage workers rather than future craftsmen.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• artisan