craft

1 of 2

noun

plural crafts
1
: skill in planning, making, or executing : dexterity
"We have not the strength with which to fight this man; we must … win, if win we can, by craft."Jack London
2
a
: an occupation, trade, or activity requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill
the carpenter's craft
the craft of writing plays
crafts such as pottery, carpentry, and sewing
He learned the craft as an apprentice.
b
crafts plural : articles made by craftspeople
a store selling crafts
a crafts fair
3
: skill in deceiving to gain an end
used craft and guile to close the deal
4
: the members of a trade or trade association
5
plural usually craft
a
: a boat especially of small size
b

craft

2 of 2

verb

crafted; crafting; crafts

transitive verb

: to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity
She is crafting a new sculpture.
a carefully crafted story
crafter noun
Choose the Right Synonym for craft

art, skill, cunning, artifice, craft mean the faculty of executing well what one has devised.

art implies a personal, unanalyzable creative power.

the art of choosing the right word

skill stresses technical knowledge and proficiency.

the skill of a glassblower

cunning suggests ingenuity and subtlety in devising, inventing, or executing.

a mystery plotted with great cunning

artifice suggests technical skill especially in imitating things in nature.

believed realism in film could be achieved only by artifice

craft may imply expertness in workmanship.

the craft of a master goldsmith

Examples of craft in a Sentence

Noun never hesitated to resort to craft to get what they wanted in life borrowed a craft to get across the river Verb The furniture is crafted from bamboo. He is crafting a new sculpture. She crafted a strategy to boost the company's earnings.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Beers come from all across the country and each box will include four different award-winning or most-popular beers from a craft brewery. Lauren Finney Harden, Southern Living, 15 Apr. 2024 Weekly craft show and farmers market runs Tuesdays from April-November. The Enquirer, 14 Apr. 2024 Hard Truth is a craft distillery that should be on your radar, and this new whiskey is yet another example why. Jonah Flicker, Robb Report, 14 Apr. 2024 These women are offered opportunities to learn over 300 craft techniques, including embroidery, hand weaving, and macrame. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 11 Apr. 2024 Also, the Anaheim Senior Citizens Club will be hosting its annual craft boutique and bake sale. Andrea Manes, Orange County Register, 11 Apr. 2024 And in true college town fashion, there are plenty of places to enjoy a beverage — Orono Brewing, home to the most extensive selection of craft brews is one of the most popular. Erinne Magee, Travel + Leisure, 11 Apr. 2024 The federal agency on Jan. 25 released a preliminary report stating that before the balloon hit the ground, the craft was already deflated with the burner on. Sasha Hupka, The Arizona Republic, 3 Apr. 2024 From tacos and tequila to burgers and brews, the festival provides a way to connect with the area’s growing roster of chefs, food artisans, and craft brewers. Tiffani Jackson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024
Verb
Now the Financial Times reports that new legislation is indeed being crafted, to ensure that tech firms developing large language models give the government access to the algorithms and demonstrate safety compliance. David Meyer, Fortune, 16 Apr. 2024 Combining comedy, action, drama and an impressive number of different animation styles, The People’s Joker is a self-conscious, intentional cult film, crafted with genuine love for everything in the margins. Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Apr. 2024 All homes are expertly crafted and constructed utilizing the finest of finishes and materials. Prime Development, Kansas City Star, 14 Apr. 2024 When Swift visited North Texas last year, the Arlington Museum of Art crafted an exhibit dedicated entirely on her career. Brayden Garcia, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 13 Apr. 2024 Each bar is carefully crafted, incorporating a precise dosage of Psilocybin, a psychedelic compound naturally found in certain shrooms. Sponsored Content, The Mercury News, 12 Apr. 2024 The 17-inch table was crafted from American black walnut wood – one of the most precious woods native to North America – and will include a plaque to commemorate the official visit. USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2024 Bony Levy Seen on celebrities like Sabrina Carpenter and SZA, Bony Levy crafts gold and diamond jewelry exclusively for Nordstrom. Jake Henry Smith, Glamour, 4 Apr. 2024 The two agencies are crafting budget proposals that would give them the capacity to hire riders and do other livestock-predator mitigation work. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 4 Apr. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'craft.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

Middle English, strength, skill, from Old English cræft; akin to Old High German kraft strength

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of craft was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near craft

Cite this Entry

“Craft.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/craft. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

craft

1 of 2 noun
1
: skill in planning, making, or doing
2
a
: an occupation requiring skill in using the hands : trade
b
plural : articles made by craftspeople
a store selling crafts
3
: skill in deceiving to gain an end
4
: the members of a trade
5
plural usually craft
a
: a boat especially of small size
b

craft

2 of 2 verb
: to make by or as if by hand
crafted a sculpture
a carefully crafted story
crafter noun

More from Merriam-Webster on craft

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