artifact
UK: ˈɑːtɪfækt | US: ˈɑːrtɪfækt
n. an object made by humans, typically of historical or cultural interest
n. (in science) a spurious result or observation caused by the experimental process itself
The word "artifact" originates from Latin roots: "ars" (meaning "skill" or "craft") and "factum" (meaning "something made"). Combined, they form "artefactum" in Late Latin, later anglicized to "artifact." The term originally emphasized human craftsmanship but expanded in scientific contexts to denote unintended byproducts of processes.
The museum displayed ancient artifacts from the Roman Empire.
The blurred image was an artifact of the camera’s low resolution.
Archaeologists carefully documented each artifact found at the dig site.
The software glitch was an artifact of incomplete coding.
Her collection included artifacts from indigenous cultures worldwide.