# manufactured

/ˌmænjəˈfæktʃɝd/ (US) · /mˌænjuːfˈæktʃəd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/manufactured
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. made in a factory

verb · CEFR B2

made something in large amounts using machines and factories.

For teachers: produced goods on a large scale using machinery and industrial processes.

- The company manufactured thousands of cars at its plant last year.
- The firm manufactured high-precision components for the aerospace industry, maintaining rigorous quality control standards throughout the production cycle.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice to focus on the product rather than the maker.

### 2. industrial or man-made

adjective · CEFR B2

describes something made by people or machines rather than occurring in nature.

For teachers: produced by human effort or industrial means; not occurring naturally.

- The river was polluted by manufactured chemicals from the nearby factory.
- The distinction between natural fibers and manufactured materials has become increasingly blurred by advances in textile engineering.

### 3. fake or invented

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

describes something that is not real or honest, but was created to trick people.

For teachers: contrived, artificial, or invented, often with the intent to deceive or create a false impression.

- The politician's manufactured smile did not make him look more friendly.
- The scandal was largely a manufactured crisis, designed by the opposition to distract the public from the successful economic reforms.

Teaching tip: This sense is often used to criticize public figures or media stories that feel forced or insincere.

## Examples

- The company manufactured over a million cars last year.
- The firm moved its operations overseas to reduce the cost of goods manufactured for the global market.
- The prosecutor argued that the defendant had manufactured an alibi by bribing witnesses to testify that he was elsewhere during the commission of the crime.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.