artisanal

Adjective

artisanal (not comparable)

1. Of or pertaining to artisans or the work of artisans.
   • In short, the young artist was developing a special respect for an aesthetic as well as an artisanal tradition that would set him apart from his future Impressionist colleagues.1997, Douglas W. Druick, Renoir, Art Institute of Chicago, →ISBN, page 13
   • The fashion plate still retained its essentially artisanal character, and involved a process of several stages.1998, Valerie Steele, Paris Fashion: A Cultural History, Berg, published 2006, →ISBN, page 112
2. Involving skilled work, with comparatively little reliance on machinery.
   • “In addition, the artisanal mode of production promotes a stable cartel organization of industry by limiting output.”1995, Richard A. Posner, Overcoming Law, Harvard University Press, page 46
   • Five species of penaeid shrimp are of commercial importance to both the artisanal and industrial fisheries of the northeast South America continental shelf.2001, S. Kuruvilla, L. Ferreira, S. Soomai, A. Jacque, edited by Uwe Tietze, Report of the Regional Workshop on the Effects of Globalization and Deregulation on Fisheries in the Caribbean, III.8...

   Synonyms:

   nonindustrial, preindustrial, small-scale

3. (especially a foodstuff) Made by an artisan (skilled worker).
   • A sprinkle of aged artisanal soy sauce (my latest obsession) makes this simple dish seem like a feast.2007 August, Ruth Reichl, “Letter from the Editor”, in Gourmet, page 18
   • I could not have imagined that there would be nationally distributed artisanal bread that rivaled or surpassed the quality of much of the locally produced bread or that this would be the main competition.2010, Thom Leonard, edited by Daniel T. DiMuzio, Bread Baking: An Artisan′s Perspective, Artisan Baker Profile: Thom Leonard, page 26

   Synonyms:

   boutique, handmade