synthetic
n. countablen. a substance or fabric that is made by humans rather than found in nature. You often see this word on clothing labels for materials like polyester or nylon.
n. a substance, particularly a textile fiber or fabric, produced by chemical synthesis rather than occurring naturally.
This jacket is made from a durable synthetic.
While natural wool is warm, many athletes prefer a high-performance synthetic that wicks moisture away from the skin.
The transition from natural rubber to industrial synthetics allowed for more consistent manufacturing standards across the automotive sector during the mid-twentieth century.
From French synthétique, from Ancient Greek συνθετικός (sunthetikós); Equivalent to synthesis + -ic (suffix formation of -tic).
Often used in the plural ('synthetics') when referring to a category of materials or fabrics.