artificial

adjective

ar·​ti·​fi·​cial ˌär-tə-ˈfi-shᵊl 

1

: humanly contrived (see contrive sense 1b) often on a natural model : man-made

an artificial limb

artificial diamonds

2

a

: having existence in legal, economic, or political theory

b

: caused or produced by a human and especially social or political agency

an artificial price advantage

Within these companies, qualified women run into artificial barriers that prevent them from advancing to top positions in management.

—James J. Kilpatrick

3

a

: lacking in natural or spontaneous quality

an artificial smile

an artificial excitement

b

: imitation, sham

artificial flavor

4

: based on differential morphological characters not necessarily indicative of natural relationships

an artificial key for plant identification

5

obsolete : artful, cunning

artificiality

ˌär-tə-ˌfi-shē-ˈa-lə-tē 

noun

artificially

ˌär-tə-ˈfi-shᵊl-ē 

adverb

artificialness

ˌär-tə-ˈfi-shəl-nəs 

noun

Synonyms

• affected
• assumed
• bogus
• contrived
• factitious
• fake
• false
• feigned
• forced
• mechanical
• mock
• phony
• phoney
• plastic
• pretended
• pseudo
• put-on
• sham
• simulated
• spurious
• strained
• unnatural

Examples of artificial in a Sentence

the world's first artificial heart

This product contains no artificial colors natural substances are used.

The country's borders are artificial, and were set with no consideration for the various ethnic groups in the region.

Recent Examples on the Web

Both of these are artificial sweeteners and are used to cover the flavor of the less tasty ingredients. —Nena Farrell, WIRED, 21 Apr. 2024

An artificial Snoop comes in on the second verse to further push K. Dot into firing back and Drake. —Mitchell Peters, Billboard, 20 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, "devised by humans (as opposed to originating naturally or divinely)," borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French artificiel, borrowed from Medieval Latin artificiālis "produced by human skill, skilled, artistic," going back to Latin, "furnished or contrived by art (in rhetoric)," from artificium "artistry, craftsmanship, craft" + -ālis -al entry 1 — more at artifice

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing artificial

• artificial horizon
• artificial insemination
• artificial intelligence
• artificial light
• artificial respiration
• artificial selection
• artificial ventilation
• generative artificial intelligence

Kids Definition

artificial

adjective

ar·​ti·​fi·​cial ˌärt-ə-ˈfish-əl 

1

: made, produced, or performed by human beings often following a natural model or process

artificial flowers

artificial pollination

2

: not genuine or sincere : forced

an artificial smile

artificiality

ˌärt-ə-ˌfish-ē-ˈal-ət-ē 

noun

artificially

ˌärt-ə-ˈfish-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Etymology

Middle English artificial "made or done by humans rather than occurring in nature," from early French artificiel (same meaning) or Latin artificialis "contrived by art," from Latin artificium "skill, artistry, craft," derived from arti- (from art-, ars "skill") and facere "to make, do" — related to fashion, manufacture, perfect

Medical Definition

artificial

adjective

ar·​ti·​fi·​cial ˌärt-ə-ˈfish-əl 

1

: humanly contrived often on a natural model

an artificial limb

2

: based on differential morphological characters not necessarily indicative of natural relationships

an artificial key for identification of a group of organisms

artificially

-ˈfish-(ə-)lē 

adverb

Legal Definition

artificial

adjective

ar·​ti·​fi·​cial

1

a

: made by humans

artificial accessions

compare natural

b

: caused or produced by a human and especially social or political agency

an artificial price advantage

2

: arising through operation of law

artificially adverb