artefact

 
Pronunciation: /ˈɑːtɪfakt/
(US artifact)

noun

  • 1an object made by a human being, typically one of cultural or historical interest: gold and silver artefacts
  • 2something observed in a scientific investigation or experiment that is not naturally present but occurs as a result of the preparative or investigative procedure: the curvature of the surface is an artefact of the wide-angle view

Derivatives

artefactual

adjective

Origin:

early 19th century: from Latin arte 'by or using art' + factum 'something made' (neuter past participle of facere 'make')

Artefact, ‘a product of human art or workmanship’ comes from the Latin arte factum, ‘made by art’. The spelling with the letter e is much the more common in British English. In American English, artifact, corresponding to pronunciation rather than etymology, is the preferred form, but would be looked on unfavourably in most of the circles in Britain in which such a word would be used.

Spelling help

Spell artefact with an e after the first t (the spelling artifact is American).