What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
artefact
Example
The museum has a collection of ancient artefacts from different civilizations. [artefacts: plural noun]
Example
Archaeologists discovered several artefacts during the excavation of the ancient site. [artefacts: plural noun]
artifact
Example
The archaeologists found an artifact that provided clues about the daily life of ancient civilizations. [artifact: noun]
Example
In digital forensics, artifacts can be used to reconstruct a person's online activities. [artifacts: plural noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Artifact is more commonly used than artefact in everyday language, especially in American English. Artifact is versatile and covers a wider range of contexts, while artefact is less common and is primarily used in specific fields such as archaeology or history.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between artefact and artifact?
While artefact is generally considered more formal, artifact can be used in both formal and informal contexts, making it a more versatile choice.
