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handmade

/ˌˈhæn(d)ˌˈmeɪd/

/ˈhændmeɪd/

Something that's handmade wasn't made by a machine, but formed, built, or constructed by an actual person. A handmade sweater from your grandma is one she knit herself.

Handmade items can look awkward and inexpertly constructed, but just as often they're more beautiful and special than their machine-made counterparts. Handmade pottery is unique, each bowl or mug looking slightly different since they're made and glazed individually, by hand. A handmade birthday card from a young relative is charming in a way its Hallmark equivalent could never be. Handmade comes from the sense of "made by hand."

Definitions of handmade
  1. adjective
    made by hand or a hand process
    “delicate handmade baby dresses”
    synonyms: hand-crafted, handcrafted
    camp-made
    made as part of the arts-and-crafts program at summer camp
    hand-loomed, handwoven
    made on a handloom
    handsewn, handstitched
    sewn by hand rather than machine
    overhand, oversewn
    sewn together with overhand stitches (close vertical stitches that pass over and draw the two edges together)
    see moresee less
    Antonyms:
    machine-made
    made by machine
Pronunciation
US

/ˌˈhæn(d)ˌˈmeɪd/

UK

/ˈhændmeɪd/

DISCLAIMER: These example sentences appear in various news sources and books to reflect the usage of the word ‘handmade'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Vocabulary.com or its editors. Send us feedback
Word Family
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