craftsmanship

C3R1A1F4T1S1M3A1N1S1H4I1P3
US/ˈkɹæfts.mən.ʃɪp/

noun

The quality of being a craftsman.

“The craftsmanship on the antique chair was exquisite.”

Less commonScrabble 25

Meanings

nouncraftsmanship (usually uncountable, plural craftsmanships)

plural craftsmanships · alternative craftmanship

  1. uncountableusuallyThe quality of being a craftsman.

    Synonyms: artisanship, craftwork, workmanship

  2. uncountableusuallyAn example of a craftsman's work.

    The craftsmanship on the antique chair was exquisite.

    2 more examples

    A helm of extraordinary craftsmanship, wroght with amber and gold, rested on his head.

    2003, Christopher Paolini, “Prologue: Shade of Fear”, in Eragon, page 2

    In Venice he eats fish and vegetables. In Paris he eats cakes, because he likes the craftsmanship of their creation. “But really, I have cheap taste. I like cheese and ice cream. The sluttier the better.”

    2019 September 26, Caroline Roux, “Rick Owens: 'I love art nouveau. It's super sexy and ominous'”, in The Guardian

Synonyms & antonyms

nounThe quality of being a craftsman.

More synonyms by meaning

nounskill in an occupation or trade

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Proto-Germanic*krafjaną
  2. Proto-Germanic*kraftuz
  3. Proto-West Germanic*kraftu
  4. Old Englishcræft
  5. Middle Englishcraft
  6. Englishcraft
  7. Proto-Indo-European*mon-
  8. Proto-Germanic*mann-
  9. Proto-West Germanic*mann
  10. Old Englishmann
  11. Middle Englishman
  12. Englishcraftsman
  13. Proto-Germanic*skapjaną
  14. Englishcraftsmanship

From craftsman + -ship.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Catalan artesania
  • artesaniaquality of being a craftsman
Chinese Mandarin 匠人精神, 職人精神 /职人精神
  • 匠人精神 (jiàngrén jīngshén)quality of being a craftsman
  • 職人精神 /职人精神 (zhírén jīngshén)quality of being a craftsman
Dutch vakmanschap
  • vakmanschapquality of being a craftsman
Finnish käsityöläisyys
  • käsityöläisyysquality of being a craftsman
German Handwerkskunst, Handwerk
  • Handwerkskunstquality of being a craftsman
  • Handwerkquality of being a craftsman
  • Kunstfertigkeitquality of being a craftsman
  • handwerkliches Geschickquality of being a craftsman
  • handwerkliches Könnenquality of being a craftsman
Korean 장인정신
  • 장인정신 (jang'injeongsin)quality of being a craftsman
Polish rzemieślnictwo, rzemiosło
  • rzemieślnictwoquality of being a craftsman
  • rzemiosłoquality of being a craftsman
Russian мастерство
  • мастерство (masterstvo)quality of being a craftsman
Turkish ustalık
  • ustalıkquality of being a craftsman
Cite this entry
APA

craftsmanship. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/craftsmanship

MLA

“craftsmanship.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/craftsmanship. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “craftsmanship,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/craftsmanship.

Source: craftsmanship on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.