Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

semisynthetic

American  
[sem-ee-sin-thet-ik, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm i sɪnˈθɛt ɪk, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

Chemistry.

  1. derived synthetically from one or more substances of natural origin.

Etymology

Origin of semisynthetic

First recorded in 1935–40; semi- + synthetic

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.

Keasling's artemisinic-acid pathway was published in 2006; the semisynthetic drug went on the market in 2013.

From Nature • May 16, 2017

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.