handmade
- 01 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.
Simple“She bought a beautiful handmade sweater at the local craft market.”
In context“The artisan specializes in handmade leather goods, ensuring that every stitch is placed with a precision that machines cannot replicate.”
UsageTypically used before a noun to emphasize quality or uniqueness.
Teacher's tipLearners often confuse this with 'handy'; remind them that 'handmade' refers to the production process, while 'handy' refers to usefulness.
SynonymsAntonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
n.an object or piece of art that someone has made by hand.
n.an individual item or craft piece produced through manual skill.
Simple“The shop was filled with unique handmades, from pottery to woven baskets.”
In context“The gallery exhibition focused exclusively on handmades from the region, highlighting the intersection of traditional utility and modern aesthetic.”
UsageOften used in the plural to refer to a collection of artisanal goods.
Teacher's tipThe noun use is much rarer than the adjective; students should focus on the adjective form for general communication.
Synonymshandicraftcraft
From hand + made.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.