What does "artifice" mean?
A crafty but underhanded deception.
Artifice
/ˈɑː(ɹ)tɪfɪs/ noun, verb
noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A crafty but underhanded deception.
- Grammar: artifice is listed as noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: ruse, action, acuteness, ad hoc measure.
- Useful contrasts: authentic earthiness, natural earthiness, artlessness.
- Usage evidence: Religion is very personal. Practically everyone has really his own religion. Collectivity in religion is an artifice.
How to use "artifice"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "artifice" 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 "artifice" 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 "artifice" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "artifice" 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 "artifice" is acting as noun, verb 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 "ruse" 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 "artifice", 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 A crafty but underhanded deception. countable, uncountable
"The notion that consequence can be as easily managed as PR is the ultimate artifice and the ultimate delusion."
- 2 a deceptive maneuver (especially to avoid capture) wordnet
- 3 A trick played out as an ingenious, but artful, ruse. countable, uncountable
"The heightened worlds of darkly comedic satire and soapy high-school romance make it easy enough to roll with unrealistic casting choices—and that goes for stage musicals, too, where some level of artifice is built into the format."
- 4 A strategic maneuver that uses some clever means to avoid detection or capture. countable, uncountable
- 5 A tactical move to gain advantage. countable, uncountable
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Something made with technical skill; a contrivance. archaic, countable, uncountable
Verb
- 1 To construct by means of skill or specialised art
"The Creator has so cunningly endowed our bodies that there is no labor to be done, no skill in artificing or fashioning the metals, that is beyond our reach."
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Religion is very personal. Practically everyone has really his own religion. Collectivity in religion is an artifice."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "artifice"?
Common synonyms include: ruse, action, acuteness, ad hoc measure, adeptness, adroitness.
How do you use "artifice" in a sentence?
Religion is very personal. Practically everyone has really his own religion. Collectivity in religion is an artifice.
How do you pronounce "artifice"?
Pronounced /ˈɑː(ɹ)tɪfɪs/.
Etymology
From Middle French artifice, from Latin artificium.