definition of artefact from Oxford Dictionaries Online


	Email Cite Text size: A A Print options: Example sentences Synonyms Categories artefact (arte\|fact) Syllabification: On Off Entry from World dictionary Pronunciation:/ˈɑːtɪfakt/ (US artifact) noun 1 an object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest:gold and silver artefacts 2 something observed in a scientific investigation or experiment that is not naturally present but occurs as a result of the preparative or investigative procedure Derivatives artefactual adjective Origin: early 19th century: from Latin arte 'by or using art' + factum 'something made' (neuter past participle of facere 'make') Usage Artefact, ‘a product of human art or workmanship’ comes from the Latin arte factum, ‘made by art’. The spelling with the letter e is much the more common in British English. In American English, artifact, corresponding to pronunciation rather than etymology, is the preferred form , but would be looked on unfavourably in most of the circles in Britain in which such a word would be used. Spelling help Spell artefact with an e after the first t (the spelling artifact is American). man, woman, or child of species Homo sapiens View entry relating to ideas, customs, and social behaviour of society View entry of or concerning history or past events View entry feeling of wanting to know or learn about something or someone View entry yellow precious metal, chemical element of atomic number 79 View entry precious shiny greyish-white metal View entry notice or perceive something and register it as being significant View entry based on or characterized by methods and principles of science View entry action of investigating something or someone View entry scientific procedure undertaken to make discovery View entry in particular place View entry happen View entry thing that is caused or produced by something else View entry preparatory View entry of or concerned with investigating something View entry established or official way of doing something View entry language of ancient Rome and its empire View entry article or substance that is manufactured or refined for sale View entry relating to or characteristic of humankind View entry expression or application of human creative skill and imagination View entry degree of skill with which product is made or job done View entry relating to Western or Roman Catholic Church View entry statement of facts of case View entry process or activity of writing or naming letters of word View entry character representing one or more of sounds used in speech View entry occurring, found, or done often View entry English as used in Great Britain View entry English language as spoken and written in US View entry object made by human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest View entry have close similarity View entry way in which word is pronounced View entry to certain or significant extent or degree View entry study of origin of words and way in which their meanings have changed throughout history View entry like one thing or person better than another or others View entry round plane figure whose boundary circumference consists of points equidistant from fixed point View entry island containing England and Scotland View entry single distinct meaningful element of speech or writing, used with others View entry native or citizen of United States View entry object made by human being, typically item of cultural or historical interest View entry something observed in scientific investigation or experiment that is not naturally present but occurs as result of preparative or investigative procedure View entry Meaning Click any link to see words in that category Meaning natural phenomenon Click any link to see words in that category		Nearby Words arsonist arsphenamine arsy-versy art¹ art² art. Artaud, Antonin Artaxerxes art deco artefact artel Artemis artemisia artemisinin Arte Povera arterial arterialize arterio- arteriography arteriole