artificial

[ ahr-tuh-fish-uhl ]

/ ˌɑr təˈfɪʃ əl /

SEE 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).

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Test your memory on these verbal firecrackers from the week of June 29 to July 5!

Question 1 of 7

anchorite

a granular metamorphic rock.

a person who has retired to a solitary place for a life of religious seclusion.

a hobble or fetter for a horse or other animal.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

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.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR artificial ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR artificial

2 genuine, real.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR artificial ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM artificial

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

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

Example sentences from the Web for artificially

And we now know that while others were artificially enhancing their strength, you refused.
I Pushed the Lance Armstrong Lie: An Open Letter to Greg LeMond|Mark McKinnon|July 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“These measures of penetrance are likely artificially high,” says University of Cardiff medical geneticist David Cooper.
The Genetic Heroes That Could Cure the Sick|Carrie Arnold|July 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Right now, attempts to broker peace in Sudan are artificially divided.
Satellites Correctly Predict Military Campaign Against Civilians in Sudan|Akshaya Kumar|December 9, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Secessionism splits people into parts, artificially separating the voting booth from the synagogue pew.
Hiring the Next Chief Rabbi|Raphael Magarik|October 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST

Note: negative manifestation of this retrograde is overindulgence in that which artificially stills your racing mind.
Your Week: What the Stars Predict|Starsky + Cox|August 28, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Above the neck she is the most artificially and entertainingly painted creature that has graced society since Queen Elizabeth.
Nonsenseorship|G. G. Putnam and Others
It is surely time for men to think for themselves, and to throw off the authority of names so artificially magnified.
Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson|Thomas Jefferson
Because that precedent, once set, would be artificially reproduced, and end soon in a dictator.
Memoir, Correspondence, And Miscellanies, From The Papers Of Thomas Jefferson|Thomas Jefferson
Emotion is artificially stimulated and, probably, is felt to be necessary in order to sustain illusion.
The Origin of Man and of his Superstitions|Carveth Read
These natural efforts were artificially aided as far as possible.
Scientific American Supplement, Vol. XIX, No. 470, Jan. 3, 1885|Various

British Dictionary definitions for artificially

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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

artificial

adjective

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of artificial

SYNONYMS FOR artificial

ANTONYMS FOR artificial

OTHER WORDS FROM artificial

Words nearby artificial

Example sentences from the Web for artificially

British Dictionary definitions for artificially

adjective

Derived forms of artificial

Word Origin for artificial

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

artificial

adjective

QUIZZES

HEED THE VOX POPULI, AND TAKE THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

Origin of artificial

SYNONYMS FOR artificial

ANTONYMS FOR artificial

OTHER WORDS FROM artificial

Words nearby artificial

Words related to artificially

Example sentences from the Web for artificially

British Dictionary definitions for artificially

adjective

Derived forms of artificial

Word Origin for artificial