man-made

USAGE SUMMARY

"man-made" is a correct and usable word in written English.
You can use this word to refer to an object made by human beings, typically as opposed to something that is natural. For example, "The lake was filled by a man-made dam."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

54 human-written examples

Man-made systems use gyroscopes.

The Economist

Our problems are man-made.

The New York Times

It is man-made.

The Guardian

Its ingredients appear mineral or man-made.

Independent

But the drought is partly man-made.

The Economist

But inconsistency also has man-made causes.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

6 human-written examples

The man made some classics.

Independent

No one man made it.

Yale University

Being with a man made her nervous.

The New York Times

The man made a noise of assent.

The New Yorker

Diabetes a man made disease.

Nature

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing environmental impact, consider using "anthropogenic" instead of "man-made" for a more precise and scientific tone.

Common error

While "man-made" is widely understood, consider using alternatives like "human-made" or "human-created" to avoid potential gender bias and promote inclusivity.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "man-made" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to indicate that something has been created or caused by humans rather than occurring naturally. Ludwig AI confirms this through numerous examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

34%

Science

32%

Academia

16%

Less common in

Wiki

9%

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "man-made" is a commonly used adjective to describe something created by humans, as opposed to something natural. While grammatically correct and widely understood, it's important to be mindful of potential gender bias and consider more inclusive alternatives like "human-made" or "human-created", especially in formal settings. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is frequently used across various domains, including News & Media, Science, and Academia, highlighting its versatility and relevance in contemporary discourse. When precision is paramount, particularly in scientific contexts, the term "anthropogenic" may be more appropriate. However, "man-made" remains a valuable and easily understood term in many situations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

human-created

Emphasizes the act of creation by humans, similar to "man-made" but slightly more formal.

artificially produced

Focuses on the artificial aspect of creation, suggesting a process that is not natural.

synthetically derived

Highlights the synthetic origin, often used in scientific or technical contexts.

human-engineered

Emphasizes the designed and constructed nature of something by humans, suitable when discussing technological or complex creations.

manufactured

Focuses on the industrial process of making something, implying mass production.

anthropogenic

A more formal and scientific term indicating something originating from human activity, particularly used in environmental contexts.

constructed by humans

A straightforward and descriptive alternative, emphasizing the act of construction.

fabricated

Implies something has been made or constructed, sometimes with the connotation of being deceptive or false.

cultivated

More specific to growing or developing something, often used in agricultural or biological contexts.

machine-made

Specifically refers to items created by machines, removing the direct human element.

FAQs

What does "man-made" mean?

"Man-made" refers to something that is created or caused by humans, as opposed to occurring naturally.

What is a more inclusive alternative to "man-made"?

Alternatives like "human-made" or "human-created" are often preferred as they avoid gender bias.

In what contexts is "man-made" commonly used?

"Man-made" is frequently used in discussions about environmental issues, technology, and infrastructure to distinguish between natural and human-created elements.

Is there a difference between "man-made" and "artificial"?

While both terms relate to things not found in nature, "man-made" specifically implies human creation, whereas "artificial" can also refer to imitations of natural things.