manmade

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "manmade" is correct and usable in written English.
It is used to describe something artificial, especially something made with human effort or skill rather than occurring naturally, for example: "The bridge crossing the river is a manmade structure."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

· He tapped the country's vast wealth from gas for outlandish projects including a huge manmade lake in the Kara Kum desert, a vast cypress forest to change the desert climate, an ice palace outside the capital, a ski resort and a 130ft pyramid.

The Guardian

Blame whoever you like for the demise of manufacturing – dopey bosses not checking their rearviews for the foreign competition, the three recessions of Thatcher and Major, New Labour writing off industry to chase the mirage of a "knowledge economy" – the outcome has been a manmade disaster.

The Guardian

But humans responded, and over half of barn owl nests are now thought to be in manmade boxes.

The Guardian - Travel

Elizabeth Warren consistently ranks as a leader of the liberal left, but when it comes to climate change the Massachusetts senator and many other prominent Democrats are lagging behind, a new report claims, and are not taking the steps required to prevent the globe from plunging into manmade catastrophe.

The Guardian

eroicabritannia.co.uk You'll soon be able to take the drop at the UK's first Wavegarden site ("the world's longest manmade wave") at Surf Snowdonia (surfsnowdonia.co.uk), opening in Dolgarrog in spring 2015.

The Guardian - Travel

SB 32 increases those pollution reduction goals – specifically from manmade greenhouse gases, requiring the state to reduce emissions to 40% below its 1990 levels by 2030, and then increasing that to 80% below 1990 levels by 2050.

The Guardian

It concerned the consequences of manmade climate change and involved him touring the continents seeking out its effects.

The Guardian

Excursions to the manmade caverns beneath the Langjökull ice cap are being offered by Discover the World with prices from £100pp for a round trip (discover-the-world.co.uk/iceland).

The Guardian - Travel

The only manmade place that has reduced me to tears of wonder is the Acropolis.

The Guardian

"I was never going to abide by manmade laws that said women couldn't do something," Mock told Jim Massie of the Columbus Dispatch in 1994.

The Guardian

But look again: it is the manmade world – a lantern and a wooden bridge – which lead Lucy astray.

The Guardian - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "manmade" to clearly indicate that something is created by human effort rather than occurring naturally. This term is suitable for describing environments, materials, or problems resulting from human actions.

Common error

Avoid using "manmade" when describing features that are naturally occurring but have been significantly altered by human intervention. Instead, consider terms like "modified" or "engineered" to better reflect the blend of natural and human elements.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "manmade" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something has been created or caused by human beings rather than occurring naturally. Ludwig provides several examples of its use in various contexts, confirming its adjectival role.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Encyclopedias

6%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "manmade" is used to describe something created by humans rather than occurring naturally. Ludwig AI confirms that the phrase is grammatically correct and commonly used, especially in contexts related to News & Media. While interchangeable with terms like "artificial" or "synthetic", "manmade" directly emphasizes human origin. Be mindful of the context; in situations involving natural elements significantly modified by humans, consider more nuanced terms like "engineered" or "modified" for better accuracy.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

human-created

Directly indicates creation by humans, avoiding hyphenation.

artificial

Focuses on the non-natural origin, sometimes implying imitation.

human-engineered

Highlights the element of design and technical skill.

synthetic

Emphasizes creation through chemical or industrial processes.

anthropogenic

Commonly used in scientific contexts to denote human influence.

designed

Emphasizes the planning and intention behind the creation.

manufactured

Highlights production on a large scale.

constructed

Focuses on the act of building or assembling.

fabricated

Implies creation, sometimes with a connotation of deception.

cultivated

Implies human effort in growing or developing something.

FAQs

How can I use "manmade" in a sentence?

Use "manmade" to describe something artificial or created by humans, like "The city's skyline is dominated by "manmade structures"" or "Manmade climate change is a serious threat".

What is a good substitute for "manmade"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "artificial", "synthetic", or "human created" to convey a similar meaning.

Is "man-made" or "manmade" correct?

"Manmade" is the more commonly used and accepted spelling. "Man-made" is also correct but less frequent. Both refer to something created by humans.

What does it mean when something is described as "manmade"?

It means that the object, environment, or situation was created or caused by human actions, rather than occurring naturally. For example, a "manmade lake" is an artificial body of water.