adj. 1 produced by human art or effort rather than originating naturally (an artificial lake). 2 formed in imitation of something natural (artificial flowers). 3 affected, insincere (an artificial smile). artificial insemination the injection of semen into the vagina or uterus other than by sexual intercourse. artificial intelligence the application of computers to areas normally regarded as requiring human intelligence. artificial kidney an apparatus that performs the functions of the human kidney (outside the body), when one or both organs are damaged. artificial respiration the restoration or initiation of breathing by manual or mechanical or mouth-to-mouth methods. artificial silk rayon. artificiality n. artificially adv.
[ ME f. OF artificiel or L artificialis (as ARTIFICE, -AL) ]