Meaning & use
skilled craftsman
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountable
A worker who makes things with great skill using their hands and special tools.
Grammar: Countable; the plural is 'skilled craftsmen' (irregular). Use 'a' or 'the' before it: 'a skilled craftsman'.
Patterns
- a skilled craftsman in something
- a skilled craftsman who makes something
The table was made by a skilled craftsman in the village.
She trained for years to become a skilled craftsman in woodwork.
Only a skilled craftsman can repair this old clock properly.
Word forms
| plural | skilled craftsmen |
|---|
Common combinations
- a skilled craftsman in wood
- He is a skilled craftsman in wood and metal.
- highly skilled craftsman
- The company only hires highly skilled craftsmen.
- traditional skilled craftsman
- Traditional skilled craftsmen are becoming rare.
- work of a skilled craftsman
- The carving shows the work of a skilled craftsman.
Synonyms and how they differ
- artisan
- More formal and often used for someone who makes food or decorative items by hand; 'skilled craftsman' is broader and stresses skill with tools.
- craftsperson
- A gender-neutral alternative; use it when you do not want to specify a man or a woman.
Word family
- craftsmanship noun
- The skill and quality of work of a craftsman.
- craft noun
- An activity or job that involves making things skillfully with the hands.
- skill noun
- The ability to do something well, especially after training.
Commonly confused: skilled craftsman or craftsman?
skilled craftsman vs craftsman
'Craftsman' alone means a person who makes things skillfully, but it does not necessarily mean they are highly skilled; 'skilled' adds that idea.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'skilled craftsman' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The usual pattern is 'a skilled craftsman in a type of work or material', so 'in furniture' is correct. 'At' can follow 'skilled' when talking about an activity ('skilled at carving'), but it is not used with 'craftsman' in this way.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “skilled craftsman”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.