[ar.ti.fact] n [L arte by skill (abl. of art-, ars skill) + factum, neut. of factus, pp. of facere to do--more at arm, do] (1821) 1 a: something created by humans usu. for a practical purpose; esp: an object remaining from a particular period "caves containing prehistoric ~s" b: something characteristic of or resulting from a human institution or activity "self-consciousness... turns out to be an ~ of our education system --Times Lit. Supp."
2: a product of artificial character (as in a scientific test) due usu. to extraneous (as human) agency -- ar.ti.fac.tu.al adj