'artifactitious' originates from English coinage influenced by Latin, specifically from Late Latin 'artificiosus', where 'art-'/'artifex' meant 'craft' and 'facere' meant 'to make'.

'artifactitious' changed from Late Latin word 'artificiosus' and Middle English formations related to 'artificial' and 'artifact', and eventually took the modern English form 'artifactitious'.

Initially it meant 'made by art or skill' (i.e., 'artificial'), and over time it has retained that sense while emphasizing 'contrived' or 'not natural'.