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Definition of handiwork

handiwork

/ˈhæn.di.wɝːk/
han · di · work
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handiwork Lexical Profile

handiwork Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Work done or objects made skillfully by hand; craftsmanship.

Example

"The intricate woodcarvings in the chapel are the handiwork of local sixteenth-century artisans."

2

The result or product of a particular person's actions, efforts, or schemes, often used ironicaly of something undesirable.

Example

"The messy kitchen was clearly the handiwork of the children trying to bake a cake on their own."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for handiwork

• Nearby Words

handicrafter
handily
handiness
handiwork
handjob
handkerchief
handknit

Word Origin & Etymology

From Old English handgeweorc, a compound of hand ('hand') and geweorc ('work, creation'). The medial '-i-' preserved in the modern spelling is a remnant of the Old English collective prefix ge-, which softened to 'y' or 'i' in Middle English before disappearing from most other words.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Handiwork. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/handiwork
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