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).

RELATED WORDS

synthetically

Nearby words

artifacting, artifactitious, artifactual, 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 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 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 artificially (1 of 2)

artificially

adv.

early 15c.; see artificial + -ly (2).

Word Origin and History for artificially (1 of 2)

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.

artificial

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of artificial

Examples from the Web for artificially

British Dictionary definitions for artificially

artificial

adjective

Word Origin for artificial

Word Origin and History for artificially (1 of 2)

artificially

Word Origin and History for artificially (1 of 2)

artificial