synthetic

[ sin-thet-ik ]

See synonyms for: synthetic synthetics synthetically on Thesaurus.com

adjective

of, pertaining to, proceeding by, or involving synthesis (opposed to analytic).
noting or pertaining to compounds formed through a chemical process by human agency, as opposed to those of natural origin: synthetic vitamins; synthetic fiber.

(of a language) characterized by a relatively widespread use of affixes, rather than separate words, to express syntactic relationships: Latin is a synthetic language, while English is analytic.: Compare analytic (def. 3), polysynthetic (def. 1).
Also syn·thet·i·cal. Logic. of or relating to a noncontradictory proposition in which the predicate is not included in, or entailed by, the subject.
not real or genuine; artificial; feigned: a synthetic chuckle at a poor joke.
Jewelry.
- noting a gem mineral manufactured so as to be physically, chemically, and optically identical with the mineral as found in nature.
- (not in technical use) noting a gem mineral manufactured and pigmented in imitation of a natural gemstone of that name.

noun

something made by a synthetic, or chemical, process.
synthetics.
- substances or products made by chemical synthesis, as plastics or artificial fibers.
- the science or industry concerned with such products.

Origin of synthetic

1690–1700; <New Latin syntheticus<Greek synthetikós, equivalent to synthet(ós) placed together, verbid of syntithénai to put together (syn-syn- + the-, stem of tithénai to put, place + -tos verbid suffix) + -ikos-ic

Other words for synthetic

5	fake, phony, counterfeit, sham

See synonyms for synthetic on Thesaurus.com

Other words from synthetic

syn·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb
non·syn·thet·ic, adjective
non·syn·thet·i·cal, adjective
non·syn·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb
un·syn·thet·ic, adjective
un·syn·thet·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use synthetic in a sentence

It provides us with the capabilities to actualize a synthetic evolutionary future.
With CRISPR, humans can create their own evolutionary future | Adrian Woolfson | November 20, 2020 | Washington Post
Making synthetic fertilizer is heavily reliant on finite resources and fossil fuels.
Your pee could be the golden ticket to a greener world | Ula Chrobak | November 19, 2020 | Popular-Science
Collett, a Vanderbilt grad, has been investing in software and hardware for more than 15 years, across areas such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, space, fintech, robotics, synthetic biology, computer vision and connected cars.
Space investors will see into the future at TechCrunch Sessions: Space | Connie Loizos | October 30, 2020 | TechCrunch
LabGenius is using robotic automation, synthetic biology, and machine learning to speed that process up.
This startup is using robots and A.I. to design new drugs | Jeremy Kahn | October 29, 2020 | Fortune
They selected one of the most promising and created a synthetic replica.
We finally know why sea pickles glow | María Paula Rubiano A. | October 22, 2020 | Popular-Science

The pearl is not produced synthetically, but many imitations exist.
The Wonder Book of Knowledge | Various
Analytically and synthetically we understand the god-idea as previous generations could not understand it.
Theism or Atheism | Chapman Cohen
The converse is only true when we are constructing our sentences synthetically, word by word, but this is not a sound process.
The Principles of Language-Study | Harold E. Palmer
Shall we memorize sentences or shall we learn to construct them, both synthetically and by the substitution process?
The Principles of Language-Study | Harold E. Palmer
The bulk of the indigo which now comes into the European market is prepared synthetically from coal tar.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 14, Slice 4 | Various

British Dictionary definitions for synthetic

synthetic

/ (sɪnˈθɛtɪk) /

adjectiveAlso: synthetical

(of a substance or material) made artificially by chemical reaction
not genuine; insincere: synthetic compassion

denoting languages, such as Latin, whose morphology is characterized by synthesis: Compare polysynthetic, agglutinative (def. 2), analytic (def. 3)
philosophy
- (of a proposition) having a truth-value that is not determined solely by virtue of the meanings of the words, as in all men are arrogant
- contingent: Compare a posteriori, empirical

noun

a synthetic substance or material

Origin of synthetic

C17: from New Latin syntheticus, from Greek sunthetikos expert in putting together, from suntithenai to put together; see synthesis

Derived forms of synthetic

synthetically, adverb

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

Scientific definitions for synthetic

synthetic

[ sĭn-thĕt′ĭk ]

Produced artificially, especially in a laboratory or other man-made environment. Nylon is a synthetic chemical compound.

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