Artifact Definition & Meaning | Britannica Dictionary (original) (raw)

artifact

(chiefly US)

noun

or chiefly British

artefact

/ˈɑɚtɪˌfækt/

plural

artifacts

artifact

(chiefly US)

noun

or chiefly British

artefact

/ˈɑɚtɪˌfækt/

plural

artifacts

Britannica Dictionary definition of ARTIFACT

[count]

1

:

a simple object (such as a tool or weapon) that was made by people in the past

• The caves contained many prehistoric artifacts.
• an artifact from the Colonial period

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples

2

:

a false or inaccurate result or effect that is produced accidentally

— usually + of

• The drop in scores was merely an artifact of the way the test was administered.

[+] more examples [-] hide examples [+] Example sentences [-] Hide examples