artificiality
Americannoun
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artificial quality.
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an artificial thing or trait.
artificialities of speech.
Usage
What does artificiality mean? Artificiality is the quality of being artificial—made or manufactured as opposed to occurring naturally. Artificial is often used as the opposite of natural. A close synonym of artificial is synthetic. This sense of the word is often used in the context of food to describe things like ingredients, flavors, additives, and preservatives that are chemically processed. Food packaging often specifies whether a product has natural or artificial flavors (or both). An artificial sweetener is a kind of chemical used as a substitute for sugar, such as in diet sodas. Artificial is not only used in the context of food. Artificial turf is a grasslike surface used for sports playing fields. Artificial diamonds are those that are manufactured, as opposed to those that have developed through natural processes in the earth. Artificial flowers are often used as decorations. Artificial intelligence generally refers to the ability of a computer to function in a way that mimics or is likened to the human mind. Sometimes, artificial is used in a more negative way to describe something as fake or imitation, as in Something about this tastes artificial. This sense of the word is sometimes used figuratively to describe something as being faked, phony, or contrived—the opposite of real or genuine, as in an artificial smile. Artificiality can be used in all of these contexts. Example: When designing this material, I tried to avoid any sense of artificiality—I wanted it to feel completely real.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of artificiality
First recorded in 1755–65; artificial + -ity
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He does not like the artificiality of the racing with the overtake mode and boost buttons.
From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026
While one of the hallmarks of Chekhov’s work is its emotional authenticity, “The Disappear” never quite dispels a feeling of artificiality.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026
Impressively, “Grand Tour” illuminates the artificiality of its trappings while honoring them, tapping into our collective acceptance of the “reality” of cinema’s unreality.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2025
The amnesia conceit allows the film to highlight its artificiality: painted backdrops, stages that recede into blackness, supporting players recast in multiple roles.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 12, 2025
The artificiality of her parents’ relationship always seemed harder, more shaming, when she was here in Kano.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
