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artificial

adj.
US //ˌɑɹtəˈfɪʃəɫ// UK //ˌɑːtɪfˈɪʃəl// ar·ti·fi·cial
  1. 1 man-made (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    made by people rather than occurring naturally.

    produced by human art or effort rather than occurring naturally; synthetic or manufactured.

    Example

    The park has an artificial lake that was built in the 1990s.

    Example

    The research team developed an artificial skin that can detect changes in temperature and pressure, mimicking human touch.
  2. 2 insincere (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    not sincere or natural; forced.

    lacking in sincerity or spontaneity; feigned or forced for social effect.

    Example

    He gave an artificial smile when he saw his rival enter the room.

    Example

    Her laughter sounded somewhat artificial, suggesting she was merely trying to appear polite during the awkward dinner party.
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  1. 3 arbitrary or non-natural (adj.)
    C1 Advanced Academic

    created by a rule or system rather than by nature.

    imposed by human intervention or convention rather than arising from inherent properties.

    Example

    The division between the two neighborhoods is an artificial one created by the new highway.

    Example

    Economists argue that the price floor is an artificial barrier that prevents the market from reaching a natural equilibrium.
Origin

From Middle English artificial (“man-made”) via Old French (modern French artificiel), from Latin artificiālis from artificium (“skill”), from artifex, from ars (“skill”), and -fex, from facere (“to make”). Displaced native Old English cræftlīċ.

Word family

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