prosthetic

American  

[pros-thet-ik] / prɒsˈθɛt ɪk /

adjective

1. of or relating to an artificial body part or prosthesis.

   He was fitted for a prosthetic arm.

2. of or relating to the fields of surgical or dental prosthetics.

   advances in prosthetic technology.

3. of or relating to a substance, item, or process used to transform a person’s appearance temporarily, especially as a theatrical special effect.

   The final scene required painstaking application of prosthetic hair and skin.

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noun

1. an artificial body part; a prosthesis.

   Hundreds of amputees volunteered to test the new prosthetics.

2. an appearance-altering substance or item applied temporarily to a person’s face or body, especially to create a theatrical special effect.

   Alien creatures are brought to life with realistic prosthetics.

Other Word Forms

• prosthetically adverb

Etymology

Origin of prosthetic

1735–40; < Modern Latin prostheticus, from Hellenistic Greek prosthetikós, equivalent to prósthet(os) “added on,” verbid of prostithе́nai “to add, put onto” ( pros- pros- ( def. ). + the-, stem of tithе́nai “to put, place” + -tos verbid suffix) + -ikos -ic ( def. )

Example Sentences

The couple are now fundraising for advanced prosthetics, including potentially robotic hands, which they said could cost tens of thousands of pounds.

From BBC

The 69-year-old, who has not been named, underwent an operation in 2021 at Castle Hill Hospital in Cottingham, near Hull, to replace a prosthetic knee she had had for more than 15 years.

From BBC

Then Vahid hears the telltale squeak of Peg Leg’s prosthetic leg.

From Los Angeles Times

After losing his right leg on the battlefield in Ukraine, Dmitry, a former fighter with Russia's Wagner paramilitary group, is walking again thanks to a new prosthetic limb.

From Barron's

As artificial intelligence powered prosthetic arms become more common, understanding how people respond to them will be essential.

From Science Daily