artificial

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   artificially formal

   They hated such artificial humility.

2. 2
   adj

   contrived by art rather than nature

   artificial flowers

3. 3
   adj

   Man-made; made by humans; of artifice.

   The flowers were artificial, and he thought them rather tacky.

4. 4
   adj

   Insincere; fake, forced, or feigned.

   Her manner was somewhat artificial.

5. 5
   adj

   Not natural or normal: imposed arbitrarily or without regard to the specifics or normal circumstances of a person, a situation, etc.

   “How quickly have I fallen!” thought Tarzan; but in his heart he did not consider it a fall—rather, he pitied the poor creatures of Paris, penned up like prisoners in their silly clothes, and watched by policemen all their poor lives, that they might do nothing that was not entirely artificial and tiresome.

6. 6
   adj

   Based on characteristics useful for identification, without regard for the formal differences used in classification.

   Artificial keys are devised purely to facilitate determination […]

7. 7
   adj

   Conveying some meaning other than the actual contents of one's hand.

   An artificial bid doesn't necessarily show length in the suit being bid, it has an altogether different meaning.

8. 8
   adj

   not arising from natural growth or characterized by vital processes

Etymology

From Middle English artificial (“man-made”) via Old French (modern French artificiel), from Latin artificiālis from artificium (“skill”), from artifex, from ars (“skill”), and -fex, from facere (“to make”). Displaced native Old English cræftlīċ.