Craft — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

Meaning & Definition of Craft

Craft (noun)

skill in planning, making, or executing, dexterity
an occupation, trade, or activity requiring manual dexterity or artistic skill
articles made by craftspeople

Craft (verb)

to make or produce with care, skill, or ingenuity

Craft (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

an occupation requiring skillful use of the hands

"an expert in the craft of cabinetmaking"

similar: art, handcraft, handicraft, trade

related: skill, calling, métier, occupation, profession, vocation
a small buoyant structure for travel on water

"borrowed a craft to get across the river"

similar: boat, bottom, vessel, watercraft

related: catboat, ketch, sailboat, schooner, yacht, bateau, caïque, canoe, catamaran, coracle, curragh, dhow, dinghy, dink, dory, dugout, flatboat, garvey, gig, johnboat, kayak, outrigger, paddleboat, pinnace, piragua, pirogue, pontoon, pram, punt, raft, rowboat, rowing boat (chiefly British), sampan, scow, scull, shallop, shell, skiff, surfboat, umiak, wherry, cruiser, inboard, motorboat, outboard, powerboat, houseboat, riverboat, auxiliary, bumboat, cutter, jolly boat, launch, lifeboat, longboat, tender, yawl, barge, hoy, keel, keelboat, lighter, narrow boat (British), towboat, tug, tugboat, ferry, ferryboat, gondola, taxi, water taxi, banker, coble, dragger, gillnetter, hooker, lugger, scalloper, seiner, shrimper, trawler, whaleboat, whaler, workboat, cockleshell, tub, airboat, air-cushion vehicle, hovercraft, hydrofoil, hydroplane, assault boat, PT boat, torpedo boat
the inclination or practice of misleading others through lies or trickery

"never hesitated to resort to craft to get what they wanted in life"

similar: artifice, cheating, cozenage, craftiness, crookedness, crookery, cunning, cunningness, deceit, deceitfulness, deception, deceptiveness, dishonesty, dissembling, dissimulation, double-dealing, dupery, duplicity, fakery, foxiness, fraud, guile, guilefulness, wiliness

related: equivocation, lying, mendacity, prevarication, chicane, chicanery, fraudulence, hanky-panky, jugglery, legerdemain, mountebankery, obliquity, skulduggery, subterfuge, swindling, trickery, wile, falsehood, falsity, fib, untruth, hypocrisy, insincerity, sanctimoniousness, two-facedness, artfulness, caginess, deviousness, shrewdness, treacherousness, underhandedness, unscrupulousness, covertness, furtiveness, secrecy, shadiness, sneakiness, stealthiness, oiliness, shiftiness, slickness, slipperiness, slyness, smoothness

opposite: artlessness, forthrightness, good faith, guilelessness, ingenuousness, sincerity

near: candidness, candor, directness, frankness, openness, plainness, plainspokenness, honesty, probity, dependability, reliability, reliableness, solidity, trustability, trustiness, trustworthiness, decency, goodness, incorruptibility, integrity, righteousness, truthfulness, uprightness, virtuousness
skill in achieving one's ends through indirect, subtle, or underhanded means

"celebrated in political circles for his craft, he's the legislator who knows how to get bills passed"

similar: artfulness, artifice, caginess, canniness, craftiness, cunning, cunningness, deviousness, foxiness, guile, guilefulness, slickness, slyness, sneakiness, subtleness, subtlety, wiliness

related: calculation, care, design, savvy, sharpness, shrewdness, cleverness, ingeniousness, ingenuity, inventiveness, ease, facility, finesse, deceitfulness, duplicity, shiftiness, underhandedness
subtle or imaginative ability in inventing, devising, or executing something

"a really ingenious household appliance that shows a lot of craft on the part of its inventors"

similar: adeptness, adroitness, art, artfulness, artifice, artistry, cleverness, cunning, deftness, masterfulness, skill, skillfulness

related: dexterity, ease, finesse, handiness, experience, expertise, expertness, know-how, proficiency, creativity, ingenuity, inventiveness, knowledge, learning, aptitude, bent, flair, gift, knack, talent

opposite: artlessness, ineptitude, ineptness, maladroitness

near: amateurishness, awkwardness, clumsiness, crudeness, klutziness, rudeness, inability, inadequacy, inadequateness, incapability, incapacity, incompetence, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficacy, inefficiency

Craft (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

to put (something) into proper and usually carefully worked out written form

"spent hours crafting the perfect letter of recommendation for her prize student"

similar: cast, compose, draft, draw up, formulate, frame, prepare, put together

related: fabricate, fashion, form, mold, sculpture, shape, couch, express, phrase, state, verbalize, word, author, indite, pen, write, conceive, concoct, devise, build, construct, make, assemble, compound, piece (together), redraft, reformulate, reframe

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Craft

The most common words with a similar meaning to Craft:

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Craft

Words with the opposite meaning of Craft:

artlessness, forthrightness, good faith, guilelessness, ingenuousness, sincerity, ineptitude, ineptness, maladroitness

Related Words for Craft

calling, métier, occupation, profession, vocation, catboat, ketch, sailboat, schooner, yacht, bateau, caïque, canoe, catamaran, coracle, curragh, dhow, dinghy, dink, dory, dugout, flatboat, garvey, gig, johnboat, kayak, outrigger, paddleboat, pinnace, piragua

Near Antonyms of Craft

Word Forms of Craft

Inflections: crafts, crafted, crafting

Derived words: crafter (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Craft

Middle English, strength, skill, from Old English cræft; akin to Old High German kraft strength

First known use: before 12th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Craft

CEFR level: B2 English Vocabulary — Page 6
Topics: Common Actions / Verbs

Words & Phrases Containing Craft

craft beer, craft union, landing craft, pleasure craft

Frequently Asked Questions about Craft

What does "Craft" mean?

"Craft" means skill in planning, making, or executing, dexterity. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: skill in planning, making, or executing, dexterity. It has 6 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Craft"?

Other words for "Craft" include art, handcraft, handicraft, trade, boat, bottom, vessel and watercraft. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Craft" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Craft"?

There are 249 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Craft". Common alternatives include art, handcraft, handicraft, trade, boat, bottom, vessel, watercraft, artifice and cheating.

What is the opposite of "Craft"?

Antonyms of "Craft" include artlessness, forthrightness, good faith, guilelessness, ingenuousness, sincerity, ineptitude and ineptness. Near antonyms include candidness, candor, directness and frankness.

How do you use "Craft" in a sentence?

Examples of "Craft" in a sentence: "an expert in the craft of cabinetmaking"; "borrowed a craft to get across the river"; "never hesitated to resort to craft to get what they wanted in life".

Is "Craft" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Craft" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Craft" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Craft" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Craft"?

"Craft" is pronounced /ˈkraft/.