n.
Pronunciation: ' är-ti- ˌ fakt
Function: noun
Etymology: Latin arte by skill (abl. of art-, ars skill) + factum, neuter of factus, past participle of facere to do ― more at ARM , DO
Date: 1821
1 a : something created by humans usually for a practical purpose especially : an object remaining from a particular period <caves containing prehistoric artifact s > b : something characteristic of or resulting from a particular human institution, period, trend, or individual <self-consciousness ⋯ turns out to be an artifact of our education system ― Times Lit. Supp. >
2 : a product of artificial character (as in a scientific test) due usually to extraneous (as human) agency
– ar · ti · fac · tu · al \ ˌ är-ti- ' fak-ch ə (-w ə )l, - ' fak-shw ə l, -chü- ə l \ adjective