Ar"ti*fact (?), n. [L. ars, artis, art + facere, factum, to make.] 1. (Archæol.) A product of human workmanship; -- applied esp. to the simpler products of aboriginal art as distinguished from natural objects.

2. (Biol.) A structure or appearance in protoplasm due to death or the use of reagents and not present during life.

Ar"ti*fact (?), n. [L. ars, artis, art + facere, factum, to make.] 1. (Archæol.) A product of human workmanship; -- applied esp. to the simpler products of aboriginal art as distinguished from natural objects.

2. (Biol.) A structure or appearance in protoplasm due to death or the use of reagents and not present during life.

• An object, such as a tool, weapon or ornament, of archaeological or historical interest.
       
• The dig produced many Roman artifacts.
  
• A structure or feature, visible only as a result of external action or experimental error.
       
• The shadow on the lungs turned out to be an artifact of the X-ray process.