artificial

UK: /ˌɑː^rtɪˈfɪʃ^əl/ US: /ˌɑrtəˈfɪʃəl/ ,(är′tə fish′əl)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

ar•ti•fi•cial /ˌɑrtəˈfɪʃəl/   adj. 

1. made by human skill; not natural:
   an artificial satellite.
2. Jewelry, imitation;
   not real:
   artificial vanilla flavoring.
3. lacking naturalness;
   false;
   forced:
   an artificial smile.

ar•ti•fi•ci•al•i•ty /ˌɑrtəˌfɪʃiˈælɪti/  n. [uncountable]
ar•ti•fi•cial•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

ar•ti•fi•cial  (är′tə fish′əl), adj. 

1. made by human skill;
   produced by humans (opposed to natural):
   artificial flowers.
2. Jewelry imitation;
   simulated;
   sham:
   artificial vanilla flavoring.
3. lacking naturalness or spontaneity;
   forced;
   contrived;
   feigned:
   an artificial smile.
4. full of affectation;
   affected;
   stilted:
   artificial manners; artificial speech.
5. made without regard to the particular needs of a situation, person, etc.;
   imposed arbitrarily;
   unnatural:
   artificial rules for dormitory residents.
6. Biology based on arbitrary, superficial characteristics rather than natural, organic relationships:
   an artificial system of classification.
7. Jewelry manufactured to resemble a natural gem, in chemical composition or appearance. Cf. assembled, imitation (def. 11), synthetic (def. 6).

• Latin artificiālis contrived by art; see artifice, -al¹
• Middle English 1350–1400

ar′ti•fi′cial•ly, adv. 
ar′ti•fi′cial•ness, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. synthetic.
• 2, 3. counterfeit, factitious.
• 4. pretentious.

Antonyms

• 2. genuine, real.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

artificial / ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃəl/ adjective

1. produced by humankind; not occurring naturally: artificial materials of great strength
2. made in imitation of a natural product, esp as a substitute; not genuine: artificial cream
3. pretended; assumed; insincere: an artificial manner
4. lacking in spontaneity; affected: an artificial laugh
5. relating to superficial characteristics not based on the interrelationships of organisms: an artificial classification

Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin artificiālis belonging to art, from artificium skill, artifice

artificiality / ˌɑːtɪˌfɪʃɪˈælɪtɪ/ noun

ˌartiˈficially adverb