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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The Egypt Game
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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 handicraft flourished in Srinagar and later spread to other towns and villages across Indian-administered Kashmir.
From Barron's ● Aug. 27, 2026
The simulation of human handicraft — of stagehands and horn players hiding in the wings — is unnerving.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2025
In ancient Greece, Athena was the goddess of war, handicraft and wisdom.
From BBC ● Jan. 29, 2025
Throughout the old town, kitschy souvenir shops have replaced handicraft stalls and bookstores.
From New York Times ● Feb. 4, 2024
Nuclear weapons became almost a home handicraft industry.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
She now supports herself by selling handicrafts, making enough to get by in Dali.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 13, 2026
The initiative would focus on manufacturing, agriculture, technology and defence, as well as India's "soft power" through yoga, tourism and handicrafts.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
They point to the wooden huts, food and drink, and the handicrafts as positive signs this is close to the traditional ideal.
From BBC ● Nov. 28, 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
Her plan was to make it an outlet for some of the native handicrafts from areas where we had worked.
From "The Egypt Game" by Zilpha Keatley Snyder
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
