artificial

ar‧ti‧fi‧cial S3 /ˌɑːtəˈfɪʃəl◂, ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃəl◂ $ ˌɑːr-/ BrE AmE adjective [usually before noun]
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: Old French; Origin: artificiel, from Latin artificialis, from artificium; ⇨ ↑artifice]
1. not real or not made of natural things but made to be like something that is real or natural SYN false OPP natural:
artificial flowers
artificial light
artificial fertilizers
2. an artificial situation or quality exists because someone has made it exist, and not because it is really necessary:
artificial distinctions
artificial barriers of gender and race
3. artificial behaviour is not sincere – used to show disapproval OPP genuine:
an artificial smile
—artificially adverb:
Food prices are being kept artificially low.
—artificiality /ˌɑːtəfɪʃiˈæləti, ˌɑːtɪfɪʃiˈæləti $ ˌɑːr-/ noun [uncountable]
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ artificial light/lighting Energy is being wasted by using artificial lighting when daylight is adequate.
▪ artificial sweeteners (=used to make food or drink taste sweeter) Diet drinks contain artificial sweeteners like saccharin.
▪ artificial colours (=used in food) I try to buy food that is free from artificial colours.
▪ artificial flavours Ice cream often has artificial flavours in it.
▪ artificial additives (=used to give food more colour or taste) Artificial additives such as colourings, sweeteners and flavour enhancers aren’t permitted in baby foods.
▪ artificial preservatives (=used to preserve food) This jam has no artificial preservatives.
▪ artificial flowers a vase of stiff-looking artificial flowers
▪ an artificial environment Animals hate being confined in an artificial environment.
▪ artificial grass artificial grass tennis courts
▪ artificial snow Some ski resorts use huge amounts of artificial snow.
▪ an artificial pitch British English The club is building a new artificial training pitch at its sports ground.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ artificial not real or natural, but made to look or work like something real or natural: artificial flowers | He was given an artificial heart.
▪ synthetic made using chemical processes rather than by natural processes: synthetic fabrics | a synthetic version of the drug
▪ man-made made by people – used especially about geographical features and materials: a man-made lake | man-made fibres
▪ fake made to look or seem like something else, especially in order to deceive people: a fake passport | fake fur
▪ imitation made to look like something, but not real – used especially about guns, jewellery, and leather: imitation firearms | imitation pearls
▪ false artificial – used especially about teeth, ↑eyelashes, and ↑beards: a set of false teeth
▪ simulated not real, but made to look, sound, or feel real, especially by means of special computers or machines: a simulated space flight
▪ virtual made, done, seen etc on a computer, rather than in the real world: a virtual tour of the garden

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

artificial

ar·ti·fi·cial [ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃl] [ˌɑːrtɪˈfɪʃl] adjective
1. made or produced to copy sth natural; not real
• an artificial limb/flower/sweetener/fertilizer

• artificial lighting/light

2. created by people; not happening naturally
• A job interview is a very artificial situation.

• the artificial barriers of race, class and gender

3. not what it appears to be
Syn: fake
• artificial emotion
Derived Words: artificiality ▪ artificially
Word Origin:
late Middle English: from Old French artificiel or Latin artificialis, from artificium ‘handicraft’, based on ars, art- ‘art’ + facere ‘make’.
Thesaurus:
artificial adj.
1.
• free from artificial colours and flavours
synthetic • • man-made • • false • • fake • • imitation •
Opp: natural
artificial/synthetic/man-made fabrics/fibres/materials/products
artificial/synthetic/fake/imitation fur/leather
artificial/synthetic/false/fake/imitation diamonds/pearls
2.
• A job interview is a very artificial situation.
disapproving forced • • strained • • laboured • • contrived •
a/an artificial/contrived situation/example
a forced/strained smile
sound forced/strained/laboured/contrived
Synonyms:
artificial
synthetic • false • man-made • fake • imitation
These words all describe things that are not real, or not naturally produced or grown.
artificial • made or produced to copy sth natural; not real: ▪ artificial flowers ◊ ▪ artificial light
synthetic • made by combining chemical substances rather than being produced naturally by plants or animals: ▪ synthetic drugs ◊ ▪ shoes with synthetic soles
false • not natural: ▪ false teeth ◊ ▪ a false beard
man-made • made by people; not natural: ▪ man-made fibres such as nylon
fake • made to look like sth else; not real: ▪ a fake-fur jacket
imitation • [only before noun] made to look like sth else; not real: ▪ She would never wear imitation pearls.
artificial/synthetic/man-made fabrics/fibres/materials/products
artificial/synthetic/fake/imitation fur/leather
artificial/synthetic/false/fake/imitation diamonds/pearls
Example Bank:
• a patently artificial contrivance
• All food served in the restaurant is completely free from any artificial colours and flavours.
• I don't like having to do detailed work in artificial light.
• It would be entirely artificial to try and divorce the two issues.
• The patient was kept alive by the artificial heart for nearly two months.

• They use rather artificial examples.

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Collins Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

artificial

[ɑ͟ː(r)tɪfɪ̱ʃ(ə)l]
1) ADJ Artificial objects, materials, or processes do not occur naturally and are created by human beings, for example using science or technology.
  ...a wholefood diet free from artificial additives, colours and flavours...
  The city is dotted with small lakes, natural and artificial...
  He did not want his life to be prolonged by artificial means.
  Syn:
  synthetic
  Ant:
  natural
  Derived words:
  artificially ADV usu ADV with v, also ADV adj ...artificially sweetened lemonade. ...drugs which artificially reduce heart rate.
2) ADJ-GRADED: usu ADJ n An artificial state or situation exists only because someone has created it, and therefore often seems unnatural or unnecessary.
  Even in the artificial environment of an office, our body rhythms continue to affect us...
  He foresaw an open society without artificial barriers of background, religion or race.
  Derived words:
  artificiality [ɑ͟ː(r)tɪfɪ̱ʃiælɪti] N-UNCOUNT oft N of n ...another example of the capriciousness and artificiality of our adversarial system of justice.
  artificially ADV-GRADED ADV adj, ADV with v ...state subsidies that have kept retail prices artificially low.
3) ADJ-GRADED (disapproval) If you describe someone or their behaviour as artificial, you disapprove of them because they pretend to have attitudes and feelings which they do not really have.
  The voice was patronizing and affected, the accent artificial.
  Derived words:
  artificiality N-UNCOUNT oft N of n ...the novel's use of homosexuality to suggest the artificiality of all relationships in that nervous city.
4) ADJ-GRADED If you say that food tastes or looks artificial, you do not like it because its taste or appearance does not seem genuine, and seems to be created by added substances.
  The meat was chewy and the sauce was glutinous and tasted artificial.
  ...complaints that their tinned peas were an artificial shade of green.