artificial

views updated Jun 11 2018

ar·ti·fi·cial / ˌärtəˈfishəl/ • adj. 1. made or produced by human beings rather than occuring naturally, typically as a copy of something natural: her skin glowed in the artificial light. ∎  (of a situation or concept) not existing naturally; contrived or false: the artificial division of people into age groups. ∎  Bridge (of a bid) conventional as opposed to natural.2. (of a person or a person's behavior) insincere or affected: an artificial smile.DERIVATIVES: ar·ti·fi·ci·al·i·ty / -ˌfishēˈalitē/ n.ar·ti·fi·cial·ly adv.

More From encyclopedia.com