handicraft
Americannoun
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handicrafts
plural
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manual skill.
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an art, craft, or trade in which the skilled use of one's hands is required.
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the articles made by handicraft.
a shop offering the handicraft of various South American nations.
noun
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skill or dexterity in working with the hands
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a particular skill or art performed with the hands, such as weaving, pottery, etc
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Also called: handcraft. the work produced by such a skill or art
local handicraft is on sale
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of handicraft
1225–75; Middle English hendi craft dexterous skill. See handy, craft
Explanation
Something you make with your own hands, especially an ornament or decoration, is a handicraft. You might buy some local handicrafts on your trip to Mexico, like woven bags or handmade toys, as gifts for your family. Things that are made with machines or on a large scale aren't considered handicrafts. Instead, items made by artisans like pottery, handwoven blankets, handmade jewelry, and quilts stitched by hand are all examples of handicrafts. The word comes from the Old English handcræft, "skill of the hand," and was probably modeled after handiwork.
Vocabulary lists containing handicraft
"A Suitcase of Seaweed" and "Immigrants Today"
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Content Summary 3.7: Postclassical Americas
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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:
The simulation of human handicraft — of stagehands and horn players hiding in the wings — is unnerving.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2025
Throughout the old town, kitschy souvenir shops have replaced handicraft stalls and bookstores.
From New York Times ● Feb. 4, 2024
Many others work in tourism and handicraft jobs linked to Sami culture.
From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2022
Oaxaca depends largely on tourism that features the centuries-old city center, and surrounding villages with handicraft production and pre-Hispanic ruin sites.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 11, 2022
One octopus would have been enough for me, but it’s the only handicraft Cressie knows how to do, so she just keeps doing it.
From "The Secret Life of Bees" by Sue Monk Kidd
Kashmir, which has a significant number of Shia Muslims, shares ancient connections with Iran, whose scholars are credited with introducing Islam and many fine handicrafts to the region.
From Barron's ● Mar. 2, 2026
Brazil Potash has invested in a local school and soccer team, and has promised to help the Mura expand income from fish farming, small-scale agriculture and handicrafts.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2025
Of course, this isn't the first time a global fashion brand has been accused of appropriating Indian handicrafts.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2025
They hold a bazaar to display handicrafts made by Christian and Muslim women, including food, textiles, and holiday decorations.
From Slate ● Dec. 24, 2024
She was pre-eminently the Goddess of the City, the protector of civilized life, of handicrafts and agriculture; the inventor of the bridle, who first tamed horses for men to use.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
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.
