artisanal

/ɑrˈtɪzənəl/

Something artisanal is made by hand and very special. The little wooden spoon your sister carved is artisanal, and so is the honey from your neighbors' beehive.

This adjective describes things made by artisans, or skilled craftspeople. Artisanal bread might be hand-kneaded and baked in a wood-fired oven, while an artisanal ax is forged by hand in a small blacksmith's shop. Artisanal is from the Latin artitus, "skilled," and a root meaning "art." The word has become so popular that some factory-made snack foods claim to be artisanal; unless a product was crafted by hand in small batches, don't believe it!

Definitions of artisanal

1. adjective

   relating to or characteristic of a skilled craftsperson who uses traditional ways to make something
2. adjective

   (of a product, food, or drink) made by hand using traditional methods