# synthesis

/ˈsɪnθəsəs/ (US) · /sˈɪnθəsˌɪs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/synthesis
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. combining ideas

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the act of combining different ideas, styles, or information to create a single, new result.

For teachers: the formation of a complex or coherent whole by combining simpler elements or disparate ideas.

- The book is a perfect synthesis of history and fiction.
- His latest research represents a brilliant synthesis of traditional sociological theory and modern data analytics.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'of' to describe the components being merged.

### 2. chemical production

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

the process of making a chemical substance by combining simpler parts.

For teachers: the artificial execution of chemical reactions to obtain one or more products, typically involving the combination of simpler compounds.

- The synthesis of new medicines takes many years of laboratory work.
- The laboratory successfully achieved the total synthesis of the alkaloid, a process previously thought to be impossible with current technology.

Usage: Commonly used in both biochemistry and industrial chemistry contexts.

### 3. logic and philosophy

noun · CEFR C2 · Academic · Formal

the result of combining two opposite ideas to find a new truth.

For teachers: the third stage of the Hegelian dialectic, which reconciles the tension between a thesis and its antithesis.

- The professor explained how the synthesis of these two theories created a new way of thinking.
- In the Hegelian framework, the synthesis does not merely cancel the preceding conflict but preserves and elevates the valid elements of both positions.

Usage: Specific to dialectical reasoning and formal logic.

### 4. sound creation

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

creating complex sounds by combining simpler electronic signals.

For teachers: the technique of generating sound electronically by combining different frequencies or waveforms.

- Modern music relies heavily on digital sound synthesis.
- Granular synthesis allows composers to manipulate tiny fragments of audio to create vast, evolving soundscapes.

Usage: Often used in the context of electronic music and audio engineering.

## Examples

- The new building is a perfect synthesis of modern and traditional styles.
- Her research paper provides a brilliant synthesis of existing theories on climate change and urban planning.
- The final movement of the symphony represents a masterful synthesis of folk melodies and rigorous classical structure, resolving the thematic tensions introduced earlier in the work.

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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.