handmade

American  

[hand-meyd] / ˈhændˈmeɪd /

adjective

1. made by hand, rather than by machine.

   the luxury of handmade shoes.

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handmade British  

/ ˌhændˈmeɪd /

adjective

1. made by hand, not by machine, esp with care or craftsmanship

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Etymology

Origin of handmade

First recorded in 1605–15; hand + made

Explanation

Something that's handmade wasn't made by a machine, but formed, built, or constructed by an actual person. A handmade sweater from your grandma is one she knit herself. Handmade items can look awkward and inexpertly constructed, but just as often they're more beautiful and special than their machine-made counterparts. Handmade pottery is unique, each bowl or mug looking slightly different since they're made and glazed individually, by hand. A handmade birthday card from a young relative is charming in a way its Hallmark equivalent could never be. Handmade comes from the sense of "made by hand."

Example Sentences

She drove to Highview Avenue and saw a house that had curb appeal, sophisticated landscaping and interior details like handmade cabinets that she would want in a home.

From Los Angeles Times • May 21, 2026

The groups first met in 2009, bonded by a shared commitment to interactive art experiences that twist reality using an ornate handmade aesthetic.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2026

“When I think of Pennsylvania pretzel culture, I particularly think of the all-natural, handmade sourdough pretzel,” Skolnick states.

From Salon • Apr. 28, 2026

Once ubiquitous across mom-and-pop shops, handmade signage is now nearly nonexistent in an increasingly commercialized city, but thanks to the pair it continues to live on in Jackson Heights, Queens.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 22, 2026

I grab the small, wrapped box for Mom, plus the handmade card to go along with it.

From "I Can Make This Promise" by Christine Day

Related Words

• homemade