Word
Definitions
01made by hand
B1 · Intermediate
adj. made by a person using their hands or tools, not by a machine.
adj. manufactured manually rather than by industrial or automated processes.
“She bought a beautiful handmade sweater at the local craft market.”
“The artisan specializes in handmade leather goods, ensuring that every stitch is placed with a precision that machines cannot replicate.”
Usage
Typically used before a noun to emphasize quality or uniqueness.
Teaching tip
Learners often confuse this with 'handy'; remind them that 'handmade' refers to the production process, while 'handy' refers to usefulness.
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a handcrafted object
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. an object or piece of art that someone has made by hand.
n. an individual item or craft piece produced through manual skill.
“The shop was filled with unique handmades, from pottery to woven baskets.”
“The gallery exhibition focused exclusively on handmades from the region, highlighting the intersection of traditional utility and modern aesthetic.”
Usage
Often used in the plural to refer to a collection of artisanal goods.
Teaching tip
The noun use is much rarer than the adjective; students should focus on the adjective form for general communication.
Synonyms
Etymology
From hand + made.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B1 PreliminaryIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.4.0–5.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 3.0–3.544–71TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.550–784
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B1 · Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/handmade
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0