handmade

American  

[hand-mayd] / 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

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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

See Examples For:

handmade

"We get satisfaction from the idea that our craftsmanship is recognized in other countries and that people see value in handmade things," Miguel Reynoso, a 58-year-old papel picado producer, told AFP.

From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026

The opposite of slop isn’t necessarily handmade, independent, expensive or even particularly beautiful.

From Salon ● Oct. 3, 2026

Not long after their meeting, Roberts received a handmade card from Pike, thanking her for how she treated her.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

At Boulder Bookstore, there’s more than just good reads—look for decorative bookends and notebooks handmade from antique book covers.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 27, 2026

It’s not a huge dovecote for actual doves, but it’s big and it has four floors for four different families and this cool conical roof covered in little handmade roof tiles.

From "Ask the Passengers" by A.S. King

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Related Words

• homemade

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