ar ‧ ti ‧ fi ‧ cial S3 /ˌɑːtəˈfɪʃ ə l◂, ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃ ə l◂ $ 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, ↑ eyelash es , and ↑ beard s :
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