adjective

• 1Made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, especially as a copy of something natural.

  ‘her skin glowed in the artificial light’

  More example sentences

  • ‘an artificial limb’
  • ‘artificial flowers’
  • ‘This system uses ambient light rather than an artificial light source.’
  • ‘He also makes a point of using liqueur ingredients with natural rather than artificial flavorings.’
  • ‘Natural and artificial light is reflected from the polished and honed surfaces of the stone clad interior.’
  • ‘The blocks are load-bearing and convey the same effect with both natural and artificial light, the maker says.’
  • ‘The artificial light regimen followed natural conditions, and fish were fed once a day with fresh black mussel meat.’
  • ‘Through the use of large glazed areas and reflectors, the best use is made of natural light and less artificial light is needed.’
  • ‘What is the point of spending Billions of Euros (Pounds, Yen etc) on wiping out a disease and then making artificial copies of it?’
  • ‘Shouldn't we support natural replenishment of fish stocks where possible rather than rely on artificial restocking?’
  • ‘Midwives aim to show a woman her own body's capacity to birth, rather than relying on artificial methods.’
  • ‘Most women will opt for a set of artificial nails rather than trying to grow their own out to impossible lengths.’
  • ‘A rich collection of dried flowers from Nagaland is available for those who are interested in artificial and plastic flowers.’
  • ‘High precision work is usually found to be lacking in the various units that manufacture artificial limbs.’
  • ‘We had chosen real hair rather than artificial as although more expensive it definitely looks better.’
  • ‘Now I work with Mahavir Seva Sadan, a manufacturer of artificial limbs.’
  • ‘For city-bred women, these mud pots are not meant to hold water but to accommodate flowers, both natural and artificial.’
  • ‘Sometimes the salad is kept in plastic bags where bugs incubate under artificial supermarket display lights.’
  • ‘The researchers trained moths to associate sugar-water with either yellow or blue artificial flowers.’
  • ‘Above all, 82 accident victims need artificial hands and 91 others artificial limbs for survival.’
  • ‘Visitors to Huntington Cemetery have been upset after a new sign went up banning ornaments, artificial flowers, jam jars and vases by gravesides.’
  • ‘He had his leg amputated and was fitted with an artificial limb.’

  Synonyms

  artificial, synthetic, manufactured, machine-made, fabricated

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  1. 1.1(of a situation or concept) not existing naturally; contrived or false.
     ‘the artificial division of people into age groups’
     More example sentences

     • ‘He went on to call the situation ‘an artificial crisis,’ caused by an increased demand resulting from all the publicity.’
     • ‘Admittedly, it was an artificial situation because the operator knew what the problem was and what sequence of keys was needed to cause the fault.’
     • ‘That would be to limit the operation of the provision to artificial situations, for which there is no justification either in principle or in the language used.’
     • ‘Unencumbered by bizarre and artificial notions of copyright and ownership, the kids will sort it out, I reckon.’
     • ‘But it creates an artificial crisis for which there is absolutely no need.’
     • ‘But we do have to answer the question, what do we do when other countries seek an artificial advantage?’
     • ‘This provokes an artificial crisis which is used to discredit the unions by placing the blame directly on them for the crisis.’
     • ‘All this meant that there was an artificial shortage of television advertising time available to be sold.’
     • ‘Life gets so much easier if we give up the artificial notion that progress is linear.’
     • ‘In this article we have made the somewhat artificial assumption that all new mutations have the same fitness effect.’
     • ‘The fact is that our house prices are a direct result of the artificial shortage caused by planning inadequacy.’
     • ‘Cultures grow through interaction, not through artificial isolation.’
     • ‘However, the Court considers it rather artificial to attempt to divide the ‘wider issues’ and the negligence issue.’
     • ‘We would like to see a policy that is led by the police, rather than an artificial device such as class A, class B, and class C drugs.’
     • ‘It looks stagy, artificial and old-fashioned, rather than cinematic.’
     • ‘Moreover, his selection of 1766 as an end point for his book seems rather artificial.’
     • ‘The politicians version of the Eurovision song contest has produced a rather artificial debate.’
     • ‘It appears to emanate from the formulation of a rather artificial linguistic paradox.’
     • ‘We must move away from this artificial reconciliation, but rather allow white people to voluntarily join us at these celebrations.’
     • ‘In the developed world, people devote considerably more time to artificial rather than real relationships.’
     Synonyms

     synthetic, fake, false, imitation, mock, simulated, faux, ersatz, substitute

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• 2(of a person or their behavior) insincere or affected.

  ‘an artificial smile’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Straight through her flawless appearance and extraordinary manners I saw an artificial person.’
  • ‘It's filled with artificial people, with solemn, fake smiles, empty eyes, and briefcases.’
  • ‘Their smiles aren't real, they are artificial, paid for by him.’
  • ‘These people are so artificial, she thought as she passed a group of girls who waved at her as if they were long-time friends.’
  • ‘Her brother's worried eyes gazed into her and she felt like the most artificial person on earth.’
  • ‘Ugly thougths of Jessica and her artificial friends entered her troubled mind, making her cry out in animosity.’
  • ‘Yes, they are very artificial in their point of view.’
  • ‘The accent and intonation were near perfect, and there was no sign of affected or artificial delivery.’
  • ‘He keeps grinning an artificial smile while speaking whenever the photographer is clicking.’
  • ‘I have been repelled by attempts to portray him as a vacuous man with an artificial smile and no convictions.’
  • ‘Did nobody else notice the artificial smile plastered on Hillary's face throughout?’
  • ‘Mizu was still wearing that artificial smile until we deposited our bus tokens and found ourselves a seat.’
  • ‘Forcing an artificial smile, Sam waved to her, then held a finger to his lips.’
  • ‘There are many kinds of smiles, such as sarcastic, artificial or diplomatic smiles.’
  • ‘The acting in Blackboard is of the stilted, artificial kind that seems so jarring to the modern viewer.’
  • ‘While it seems artificial at first, it's a remarkably affecting technique.’
  • ‘It was the first time in years the day didn't seem forced and artificial.’
  • ‘A quick smile works sometimes, but it feels a bit artificial.’
  • ‘I have seen a few people who sound horribly artificial on the phone.’

  Synonyms

  feigned, insincere, false, affected, mannered, unnatural, stilted, contrived, pretended, put-on, exaggerated, actorly, overdone, overripe, forced, laboured, strained, hollow, spurious

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• 3Bridge
  (of a bid) conventional as opposed to natural.

  ‘the Italian team began with an artificial club’

  More example sentences

  • ‘Bids which carry an agreed meaning other than this are called artificial or conventional.’