artificial

[ahr-tuh-fish-uhl]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR artificial ON THESAURUS.COM

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).

Origin of artificial

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

Related formsar·ti·fi·cial·ly, adverbar·ti·fi·cial·ness, nouno·ver·ar·ti·fi·cial, adjectiveo·ver·ar·ti·fi·cial·ly, adverbsu·per·ar·ti·fi·cial, adjectivesu·per·ar·ti·fi·cial·ly, adverbun·ar·ti·fi·cial, adjectiveun·ar·ti·fi·cial·ly, adverb

Synonyms for artificial

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR artificial ON THESAURUS.COM

1. synthetic. 2, 3. counterfeit, factitious. 4. pretentious.

Antonyms for artificial

2. genuine, real.

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

Related Words for artificial

unreal, bogus, counterfeit, ersatz, factitious, manufactured, mock, phony, plastic, sham, simulated, specious, spurious, substitute, synthetic, unnatural, false, fabricated, faked

Examples from the Web for artificial

Contemporary Examples of 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
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
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
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
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

Historical Examples of artificial

It had grown much too cold to do without some sort of artificial covering.
Ancient Man
Hendrik Willem van Loon
Artificial flies, like artificial flowers, never should follow nature.
Punchinello, Vol. 1, No. 6, May 7, 1870
Various
As yet the use of machinery and artificial manure is almost unknown.
The Roof of France
Matilda Betham-Edwards
It is only the artificial and the complex that bewilder them.
The Gorgon's Head
Nathaniel Hawthorne
I lead so artificial a life; but then I hope it is a useful one.
Alice, or The Mysteries, Complete
Edward Bulwer-Lytton

British Dictionary definitions for artificial

artificial

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 Formsartificiality (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

Word Origin and History for artificial

adj.

late 14c., in the phrase artificial day "part of the day from sunrise to sunset," from Old French artificial, from Latin artificialis "of or belonging to art," from artificium (see artifice). Meaning "made by man" (opposite of natural) is from early 15c. Applied to things that are not natural, whether real (artificial light) or not (artificial flowers). Artificial insemination dates from 1897. Artificial intelligence "the science and engineering of making intelligent machines" was coined in 1956.