# prosthetic

/pɹɑsˈθɛtɪk/ (US) · /pɹəsθˈɛtɪk/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/prosthetic
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. artificial body part

adjective · CEFR B2 · Technical

describing an artificial body part that replaces one that is missing.

For teachers: serving as an artificial substitute for a missing or defective body part.

- After the accident, he was fitted with a prosthetic leg so he could walk again.
- Advances in materials science have led to prosthetic limbs that offer a much wider range of motion than older models.

### 2. an artificial limb

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

an artificial device used to replace a missing part of the body.

For teachers: an artificial device, such as a limb or a heart valve, that replaces a missing or malfunctioning body part.

- The athlete adjusted her prosthetic before the race started.
- The surgeon explained that the modern prosthetic would be integrated directly with the patient's bone structure for better stability.

### 3. theatrical makeup

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a piece of artificial material, like fake skin or a fake nose, that an actor wears to change their look.

For teachers: an artificial feature or appliance applied to an actor's face or body to alter their appearance for a role.

- The actor spent four hours in makeup having a prosthetic nose applied.
- The film won an award for its use of complex prosthetics to transform the lead actor into a mythical creature.

## Examples

- He wears a prosthetic leg to run races.
- Advances in robotics have led to prosthetic limbs that can respond to signals from the user's brain.
- The athlete demonstrated remarkable agility with her carbon-fiber prosthetic, proving that modern engineering can effectively bridge the gap between biological loss and functional recovery.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.