n. (also artifact) 1 a product of human art and workmanship. 2 Archaeol. a product of prehistoric or aboriginal workmanship as distinguished from a similar object naturally produced. 3 Biol. etc. a feature not naturally present, introduced during preparation or investigation (e.g. as in the preparation of a slide). artefactual adj. (in senses 1 and 2).
[ L arte (ablat. of ars art) + factum (neut. past part. of facere make) ]