synthetic

[sin-thet-ik]

adjective

1. of, pertaining to, proceeding by, or involving synthesis (analytic ).

2. noting or pertaining to compounds formed through a chemical process by human agency, as opposed to those of natural origin.

   synthetic vitamins; synthetic fiber.

3. (of a language) characterized by a relatively widespread use of affixes, rather than separate words, to express syntactic relationships.

   Latin is a synthetic language, while English is analytic.

4. Logic.,  Also synthetical. of or relating to a noncontradictory proposition in which the predicate is not included in, or entailed by, the subject.

5. not real or genuine; artificial; feigned.

   a synthetic chuckle at a poor joke.

   Synonyms: sham, counterfeit, phony, fake

6. Jewelry.

   1. noting a gem mineral manufactured so as to be physically, chemically, and optically identical with the mineral as found in nature.

   2. (not in technical use) noting a gem mineral manufactured and pigmented in imitation of a natural gemstone of that name.

noun

1. something made by a synthetic, or chemical, process.

2. synthetics.

   1. substances or products made by chemical synthesis, as plastics or artificial fibers.

   2. the science or industry concerned with such products.

synthetic

/ sɪnˈθɛtɪk /

adjective

1. (of a substance or material) made artificially by chemical reaction

2. not genuine; insincere

   synthetic compassion

3. denoting languages, such as Latin, whose morphology is characterized by synthesis Compare polysynthetic agglutinative analytic

4. philosophy

   1. (of a proposition) having a truth-value that is not determined solely by virtue of the meanings of the words, as in all men are arrogant

   2. contingent Compare a posteriori empirical

noun

1. a synthetic substance or material

synthetic

1. Produced artificially, especially in a laboratory or other man-made environment. Nylon is a synthetic chemical compound.

Other Word Forms

• synthetically adverb
• nonsynthetic adjective
• nonsynthetical adjective
• nonsynthetically adverb
• unsynthetic adjective
• unsynthetically adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of synthetic¹

1690–1700; < New Latin syntheticus < Greek synthetikós, equivalent to synthet ( ós ) placed together, verbid of syntithénai to put together ( syn- syn- + the-, stem of tithénai to put, place + -tos verbid suffix) + -ikos -ic

Word History and Origins

Origin of synthetic¹

C17: from New Latin syntheticus, from Greek sunthetikos expert in putting together, from suntithenai to put together; see _synthesis

Example Sentences

While kratom itself is not an opioid, it has similar effects and in high doses synthetic 7-OH can act more like a traditional opioid.

From Los Angeles Times

Subsequent synthetics display a range of temperaments, from Lance Henriksen’s Bishop, realistic enough to pass for human, to Michael Fassbender’s David 8, the earliest Weyland-Yutani invention to achieve a lifelike version of artificial intelligence.

From Salon

It was a newly installed hybrid field of rye and synthetic grass that could endure the wear and tear of 300-pound combatants.

From Los Angeles Times

Without Andy, a so-called “synthetic person,” we get the sense that Rain wouldn’t experience much humane treatment at all.

From Salon

They’ve been using a synthetic turf field built by the Rams at nearby Nickerson Gardens while waiting for their new field to be finished next month.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fabricated 
• manufactured www.thesaurus.com