artificial
adjective
ar·ti·fi·cial
ˌär-tə-ˈfi-shᵊl
1
a
: made, produced, or done by humans especially to seem like something natural : man-made
an artificial reef
artificial sweetener
an artificial limb
artificial diamonds
see also artificial intelligence
b
medical
: serving to temporarily or permanently supplement or replace a usually vital bodily function or necessary substance (such as nutrients or water)
artificial hydration
Ezekiel, who has relied on artificial nutrition since he was a baby, because of food allergies and eating problems, receives most of his nutrition through tube feeding …—Gavin Engelbrecht
see also artificial insemination, artificial respiration
2
: caused or produced by human actions or methods especially for economic, social, or political aims
King [Martin Luther King Jr.] often pointed out that national boundaries were artificial. In September of 1964, during a visit to Germany, he thrilled audiences in both East and West Berlin with his talk of the need for brotherhood to a people divided by the Berlin Wall.—Jason Sokol
Within these companies, qualified women run into artificial barriers that prevent them from advancing to top positions in management.—James J. Kilpatrick
Yet if the characters in a children's novel are as complex, the symbolism as sophisticated, and the themes as profound as those in serious fiction, what makes it unsuitable for adults? What if the distinction between children's literature and adult literature is artificial to begin with?—Maria Devlin McNair
3
a
: not being, showing, or resembling sincere or spontaneous behavior : fake
an artificial smile
Their concern seemed artificial.
He's artificial and soulless and certainly not above being a poseur.—Ben Wener and Martin Wisckol
… everything about the movie feels artificial, from the singers' blatantly Auto-Tuned voices to the CGI acrobatics.—Stephanie Merry
… some of the younger thesps prove adept at sending up the social airs and artificial mannerisms of their characters …—Marilyn Stasio
Why, I can smile, and murder whiles I smile, / And cry 'Content' to that which grieves my heart, / And wet my cheeks with artificial tears, / And frame my face to all occasions.—William Shakespeare
4
in biological classification
: based on differential morphological characters not necessarily indicative of natural relationships
Another fundamental type is an artificial classification system, in which several key characters, often very easy to observe, are chosen as the basis of classification. Good examples are roadside floras and picture guides to plants, birds, and mammals …—James D. Mauseth
These qualities can be incorporated into a natural key (a key that follows a natural classification), but they are more frequently realized in an artificial key.—E. O. Wiley and Bruce S. Lieberman
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Merriam-Webster unabridged
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