humancreated

Humancreated, often written as human-created, is an adjective used to describe objects, systems, or phenomena that are produced or designed by humans rather than occurring naturally. It emphasizes human agency in origin and can apply to physical artifacts, digital constructs, cultural products, and built environments.

Etymology and usage: The compound mirrors formations such as man-made or artificial. "Human-created" is considered more inclusive than "man-made" and is common in academic and technical writing to avoid gendered language. Some writers prefer "human-made" or simply "created by humans" depending on context.

Scope and examples: The term covers a wide range, including tools, machinery, software, urban infrastructure, art, language, and knowledge systems that humans have designed or produced. It is often used to contrast with natural, spontaneous, or non-human processes, such as natural landscapes or biological evolution. In environmental discourse, "humancreated environments" refer to built spaces shaped by human activity.

Limitations and alternatives: Because "humancreated" can be ambiguous about degree of intentionality or design, writers may choose more specific terms like engineered, artificial, or anthropogenic when describing intentional impacts on ecosystems or climate. The term can also imply a strict natural–artificial dichotomy, which some scholars critique.