ARTIFICIAL

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does artificial mean? 

• ARTIFICIAL (adjective)
  The adjective ARTIFICIAL has 3 senses:

1. contrived by art rather than nature

2. artificially formal

3. not arising from natural growth or characterized by vital processes

  Familiarity information: ARTIFICIAL used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ARTIFICIAL (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Contrived by art rather than nature

Synonyms:

artificial; unreal

Context example:

artificial sweeteners

Similar:

arranged; staged (deliberately arranged for effect)

bionic (having particular physiological functions augmented or replaced by electronic or electromechanical components)

bleached; colored; coloured; dyed ((used of color) artificially produced; not natural)

cardboard; unlifelike (without substance)

celluloid; synthetic (artificial as if portrayed in a film)

conventionalised; conventionalized; stylised; stylized (using artistic forms and conventions to create effects; not natural or spontaneous)

dummy (having the appearance of being real but lacking capacity to function)

ersatz; substitute (artificial and inferior)

factitious (not produced by natural forces)

fake; false; faux; imitation; simulated (not genuine or real; being an imitation of the genuine article)

man-made; semisynthetic; synthetic (not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially)

near (closely resembling the genuine article)

painted (lacking substance or vitality as if produced by painting)

Also:

counterfeit; imitative (not genuine; imitating something superior)

unreal (lacking in reality or substance or genuineness; not corresponding to acknowledged facts or criteria)

Antonym:

natural (existing in or produced by nature; not artificial or imitation)

Derivation:

artificiality (the quality of being produced by people and not occurring naturally)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Artificially formal

Synonyms:

artificial; contrived; hokey; stilted

Context example:

when people try to correct their speech they develop a stilted pronunciation

Similar:

affected; unnatural (speaking or behaving in an artificial way to make an impression)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Not arising from natural growth or characterized by vital processes

Similar:

inorganic (lacking the properties characteristic of living organisms)

Derivation:

artificiality (the quality of being produced by people and not occurring naturally)

 Context examples 

Also called artificial pacemaker and pacemaker.

(Cardiac pacemaker, NCI Dictionary)

An eye drop solution containing the sodium salt form of carboxymethylcellulose (CMC) used as artificial tears.

(Carboxymethylcellulose Sodium-containing Eye Drop, NCI Thesaurus)

Any substance other than pharmacologic substance that can be applied in biomedical research or in constructing artificial organs, devices, or prostheses that can be introduced into the human body.

(Biomedical Material, NCI Thesaurus)

They may also grow in or on medical devices, such as catheters or artificial joints.

(Biofilm, NCI Dictionary)

It involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.

(Cataract, NIH: National Eye Institute)

Growth of cells in vitro in an artificial medium for research or medical treatment.

(Cell culture, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

In medicine, wheelchairs, pumps, and artificial limbs are examples of devices.

(Device, NCI Dictionary)

An appliance used as an artificial or prosthetic replacement for missing teeth and adjacent tissues.

(Denture, NCI Thesaurus)

Materials placed into (endosseous) or onto (subperiosteal) the jawbone; commonly used to support a crown, bridge, artificial tooth, stabilize a diseased tooth, or to use as anchorage in orthodontic therapy.

(Dental implant, NCI Thesaurus)

Applies only to artificial, usually extracorporeal techniques; for natural, in vivo processes, use CELL MIGRATION.

(Cell Sorting, NIH CRISP Thesaurus)