craftsman

[ krafts-muhn ]

noun

, plural crafts·men.

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

   Synonyms: handicraftsman, artificer

2. an artist.

craftsman

/ ˈkrɑːftsmən /

noun

1. a member of a skilled trade; someone who practises a craft; artisan
2. Also calledfemcraftswoman an artist skilled in the techniques of an art or craft

Gender Note

Is craftsman gender-neutral? See -man.

Derived Forms

• ˈcraftsmanˌship, noun
• ˈcraftsmanˌlike, adjective
• ˈcraftsmanly, adjective

Other Words From

• crafts·man·like adjective
• crafts·man·ly adjective
• crafts·man·ship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of craftsman¹

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 )

Example Sentences

Each Grovemade monitor stand is made in the USA by dedicated craftsmen.

From Popular-Science

Where once a studio might have handed off their “Superman” movie to a reliable craftsman like Richard Donner — who died Monday at 91 — professionalism and competence were no longer enough.

From Washington Post

Groups overseeing restoration work in Patan Durbar Square, another group of temples and shrines 30 minutes south of Kathmandu city center, are even allowing the public to walk near the craftsmen as they go about their work.

From Ozy

Today, in the shadow of a conflict that’s taken an estimated half a million lives, craftsmen are working to restore these unique water features.

From Ozy

Until the second industrial revolution in the late-19th century, production was largely in the hands of skilled craftsmen who fashioned goods at their own pace.

From Washington Post

It gave him, writes Sykes, “the ability to become his own craftsman.”

From The Daily Beast

There are 17 processes herein, which collectively take four years for a craftsman to master.

From The Daily Beast

A professional craftsman was recruited to build the rowboat.

From The Daily Beast

The artist, instead of a mere craftsman, was beginning to be revered as something quite different.

From The Daily Beast

People take for granted how skilled he was as a craftsman, the simplicity of the writing, and how naturally it came.

From The Daily Beast

A fine piece of woodwork is often spoiled by the amateur craftsman when starting a cut with a saw.

From Project Gutenberg

"You're supposed to be our combination inventor-craftsman," he said to George.

From Project Gutenberg

The reporter did something else which marked him as a craftsman.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps the Homeric chief may have sometimes been a craftsman like the heroes of the Sagas, great sword-smiths.

From Project Gutenberg

A more cunning craftsman than myself has told us that the less we track human life the more cheerily we shall speak of it.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• artisan