artificial

[ ahr-tuh-fish-uhl ]

/ ˌɑr təˈfɪʃ əl /

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adjective

made by human skill; produced by humans (opposed to natural): artificial flowers.

imitation; simulated; sham: artificial vanilla flavoring.

lacking naturalness or spontaneity; forced; contrived; feigned: an artificial smile.

full of affectation; affected; stilted: artificial manners; artificial speech.

made without regard to the particular needs of a situation, person, etc.; imposed arbitrarily; unnatural: artificial rules for dormitory residents.

Biology. based on arbitrary, superficial characteristics rather than natural, organic relationships: an artificial system of classification.

Jewelry. manufactured to resemble a natural gem, in chemical composition or appearance.Compare assembled, imitation(def 11), synthetic(def 6).

Nearby words

artifact, artifacting, artifactitious, artifice, artificer, artificial, artificial aid, artificial aids, artificial blood, artificial climbing, artificial daylight

Origin of artificial

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin artificiālis contrived by art; see artifice, -al¹

SYNONYMS FOR artificial

1 synthetic.

2, 3 counterfeit, factitious.

4 pretentious.

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ANTONYMS FOR artificial

2 genuine, real.

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Related forms

ar·ti·fi·cial·ly, adverbar·ti·fi·cial·ness, nouno·ver·ar·ti·fi·cial, adjectiveo·ver·ar·ti·fi·cial·ly, adverb

su·per·ar·ti·fi·cial, adjectivesu·per·ar·ti·fi·cial·ly, adverbun·ar·ti·fi·cial, adjectiveun·ar·ti·fi·cial·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for artificial

In the end, the line between magic and religion may be something of an artificial one.
Harry Potter and the Torah of Terror|Candida Moss, Joel Baden|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Complete male reproductive independence would also hinge on artificial womb technology, which also made headlines in 2014.
Men Will Someday Have Kids Without Women|Samantha Allen|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
In lieu of a traditional runway, Lagerfeld had the Grand Palais trussed up as an artificial city.
The Perils of Glitzy Celebrity Feminism Having a Moment|Amy Zimmerman|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Not all scientists agree that artificial sweeteners are a no-no when it comes to your health and diet.
Are Artificial Sweeteners Wrecking Your Diet?|DailyBurn|September 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The market for artificial sweeteners has soared above $1 billion annually in the U.S. alone.
Are Artificial Sweeteners Wrecking Your Diet?|DailyBurn|September 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Even so artificial a writer as Wilde had not to labour to be witty.
The Art of Letters|Robert Lynd
It is no doubt true that profuse menstrual flow is the result of our artificial lives.
What a Young Woman Ought to Know|Mary Wood-Allen
But, in order to supply to some extent the deficiency, artificial breeding has become very general.
Red Palmer: A Practical Treatise on Fly Fishing|James Tayler
Such preaching was natural; there was not an artificial element in it.
Biography of Rev. Hosea Ballou|Maturin M. Ballou
The nearer ultra-violet rays are found in sunlight and in most artificial illuminants and are transmitted by ordinary glass.
Artificial Light|M. Luckiesh

British Dictionary definitions for artificial

artificial

/ (ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃəl) /

adjective

produced by man; not occurring naturallyartificial materials of great strength

made in imitation of a natural product, esp as a substitute; not genuineartificial cream

pretended; assumed; insincerean artificial manner

lacking in spontaneity; affectedan artificial laugh

biology relating to superficial characteristics not based on the interrelationships of organismsan artificial classification

Derived Forms

artificiality (ˌɑːtɪˌfɪʃɪˈælɪtɪ), nounartificially, adverb

Word Origin for artificial

C14: from Latin artificiālis belonging to art, from artificium skill, artifice

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

artificial

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of artificial

SYNONYMS FOR artificial

ANTONYMS FOR artificial

Related forms

Examples from the Web for artificial

British Dictionary definitions for artificial

artificial

adjective

Derived Forms

Word Origin for artificial