craftsman

American  

[krafts-muhn] / ˈkræfts mən /

noun

plural

craftsmen

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

   Synonyms:

   handicraftsman, artificer

2. an artist.

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craftsman British  

/ ˈkrɑːftsmən /

noun

1. a member of a skilled trade; someone who practises a craft; artisan

2. Also called: craftswoman.  an artist skilled in the techniques of an art or craft

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Gender

Is craftsman gender-neutral? See -man.

Other Word Forms

• craftsmanlike adjective
• craftsmanly adjective
• craftsmanship noun

Etymology

Origin of craftsman

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 )

Compare meaning

How does craftsman compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• arts and crafts vs. craftsman

Example Sentences

The Society of Antiquaries of Scotland has awarded £2,779 to master craftsman Thomas Keyes to conduct an experimental archaeology project later this year.

From BBC

The old chairs are then painstakingly restored with the help of skilled craftsmen, a process that can take months.

From BBC

Yeesookyung collects ceramic shards of work discarded by master craftsmen due to minor flaws and reassembles these fragments into bubbling sculptures held together with 24 karat gold.

From The Wall Street Journal

Patterson, who died in 1972, hailed from the same region of Washington as Evans; the documentarian discovered that the hardscrabble cowboy had also been a gifted craftsman and artist.

From The Wall Street Journal

It’s a tribute to the medieval craftsmen who built Europe’s glorious cathedrals, but also a reminder that ordinary people can do extraordinary things.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• artisan