■ adjective
1》 made as a copy of something natural.
2》 contrived or false: the ~ division of people into age groups.
↘insincere or affected.
3》 Bridge (of a bid) conventional as opposed to natural.
Derivatives
~ity noun
~ly adverb
Origin
ME: from OFr. artificiel or L. ~is , from artificium (see artifice ).