What does "artifact" mean?
An object made or shaped by human hand or labor.
Artifact
/ˈɑːtɪfækt/ noun
noun ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: An object made or shaped by human hand or labor.
- Grammar: artifact is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: artefact, affair, aflicker, ancient greek text.
- Useful contrasts: biological-signal, dryads, garbage.
- Usage evidence: I heard they found an alien artifact on the moon.
How to use "artifact"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "artifact" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "artifact" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "artifact" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "artifact" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "artifact" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "artefact" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "artifact", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 An object made or shaped by human hand or labor. US
"Given increasing investment in an IT (information technology) artifact (i.e., online service website), it is becoming important to retain existing customers."
- 2 a man-made object taken as a whole wordnet
- 3 An object made or shaped by some agent or intelligence, not necessarily of direct human origin. US
- 4 Something viewed as a product of human agency or conception rather than an inherent element. US
"The very act of looking at a naked model was an artifact of male supremacy."
- 5 A finding or structure in an experiment or investigation that is not a true feature of the object under observation, but is a result of external action, the test arrangement, or an experimental error. US
"The spot on his lung turned out to be an artifact of the X-ray process."
Show 5 more definitions
- 6 An object, such as a tool, ornament, or weapon of archaeological or historical interest, especially such an object found at an archaeological excavation. US
"The dig produced many Roman artifacts."
- 7 An appearance or structure in protoplasm due to death, the method of preparation of specimens, or the use of reagents, and not present during life. US
- 8 A perceptible distortion that appears in an audio or video file or an image as a result of applying a lossy compression or other inexact processing algorithm or of physical interference in an acquisition process. US
"This JPEG image has been so highly compressed that it has unsightly artifacts, making it unsuitable for the cover of our magazine."
- 9 Ellipsis of build artifact. US, abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
- 10 Any object in the collection of a museum. May be used sensu stricto only for human-made objects, or may include ones that are not human-made. US
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"I heard they found an alien artifact on the moon."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "artifact"?
Common synonyms include: artefact, affair, aflicker, ancient greek text, ancient manuscript, ancient writing tablet.
How do you use "artifact" in a sentence?
I heard they found an alien artifact on the moon.
How do you pronounce "artifact"?
Pronounced /ˈɑːtɪfækt/.
Etymology
Alteration of artefact, from Italian artefatto, from Latin arte (“by skill”) (ablative of ars (“art”)) + factum (“thing made”) (from facio (“to make, do”)).