artificial

[ ahr-tuh-fish-uhl ]
/ ˌɑr təˈfɪʃ əl /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR artificial ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

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DO YOU KNOW THIS VOCABULARY FROM "THE HANDMAID'S TALE"?

"The Handmaid's Tale" was required reading for many of us in school. Everyone else has probably watched the very popular and addictive TV show. Do you remember this vocabulary from the book, and do you know what these terms mean?
Question 1 of 10
decorum
the act of or need for making up one's mind.
dignified propriety of behavior, speech, dress, etc.
a company of singers, especially an organized group employed in church service.
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Origin of artificial

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

OTHER WORDS FROM artificial

Words nearby artificial

artifact, artifacting, artifactitious, artifice, artificer, artificial, artificial aid, artificial aids, artificial blood, artificial climbing, artificial daylight
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to artificial

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

Example sentences from the Web for artificial

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 of artificial

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