also artefactual, "not natural, of the nature of an artifact," 1914, from artifact + -ual as in factual. Earlier artefact was used as an adjective (1909).
Entries linking to artifactual
artifact n.
1821, artefact, "artificial production, anything made or modified by human art," from Italian artefatto, from Latin arte "by skill" (ablative of ars "art;" see art (n.)) + factum "thing made," from facere "to make, do" (from PIE root *dhe- "to set, put"). The word is attested in German from 1791. The English spelling with -i- is attested by 1884, by influence of the Latin stem (as in artifice). Originally a word in anatomy to denote artificial conditions caused by operation, etc.; archaeological application in English dates from 1885 (in German from 1875).
factual adj.
1834, formed from fact on model of actual. Related: Factually.