synthetic
sihn-THEH-tihk
Synthetic (adj) means Made by chemical or industrial synthesis rather than occurring naturally, though it may closely match a natural equivalent. Example: “Synthetic dyes are cheaper to make than ones taken from plants.”
adj
1
Made by chemical or industrial synthesis rather than occurring naturally, though it may closely match a natural equivalent.
"Synthetic dyes are cheaper to make than ones taken from plants."
"The jacket is made from a synthetic fabric rather than real leather."
"Synthetic vitamin C works the same way in the body as the natural version."
2
Artificial or fake rather than genuine.
"The host's synthetic enthusiasm made the audience feel uneasy."
"I could tell his apology was synthetic, because he never looked at me."
"Her smile felt synthetic, like it was rehearsed."
noun
1
A material or substance produced by synthesis rather than found in nature.
"Many sportswear brands now blend cotton with a durable synthetic."
"This glue is a synthetic that dries much faster than the natural kind."
"The company switched from natural rubber to a cheaper synthetic."
How to use synthetic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishArtificially made rather than natural — often used for fabrics, chemicals, and materials that imitate a natural original.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
synthetic fabric
synthetic drug
synthetic material
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Word forms
- Plural
- synthetics
- Comparative
- more synthetic
- Superlative
- most synthetic
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ dyes are cheaper to make than ones taken from plants.
Etymology
From French synthétique, from Ancient Greek sunthetikos, related to "synthesis."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for synthetic
See all rhymes for synthetic →Frequently asked questions
What does “synthetic” mean?
The word “synthetic” means made by chemical or industrial synthesis rather than occurring naturally, though it may closely match a natural equivalent. In plain terms, artificially made rather than natural — often used for fabrics, chemicals, and materials that imitate a natural original.
How do you pronounce “synthetic”?
“Synthetic” is pronounced sihn-THEH-tihk (/sɪnˈθɛtɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “synthetic” in a sentence?
Here is “synthetic” used in a sentence: “The jacket is made from a synthetic fabric rather than real leather.”
What part of speech is “synthetic”?
Depending on how it is used, “synthetic” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “synthetic” come from?
The word “synthetic” comes from Ancient Greek. From French synthétique, from Ancient Greek sunthetikos, related to "synthesis.".
Is “synthetic” a common word?
“Synthetic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “synthetic” have?
“Synthetic” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: made by chemical or industrial synthesis rather than occurring naturally, though it may closely match a natural equivalent.
What is the difference between "synthetic" and "natural"?
"Synthetic" describes materials made by chemical or industrial synthesis, while "natural" describes materials that occur on their own in nature. A synthetic fabric like polyester is manufactured, whereas a natural fabric like cotton or wool comes directly from plants or animals.
What is the difference between "synthetic" and "artificial"?
The two overlap, but "synthetic" stresses that something was produced by combining chemicals or materials, often to match a natural equivalent, while "artificial" stresses that something is man-made or imitates the real thing. Synthetic rubber is chemically built to work like natural rubber; artificial flowers merely look like real ones.
Does "synthetic" always mean lower quality or fake?
Not necessarily. In its main sense, "synthetic" is a neutral, technical term meaning made by synthesis, and synthetic materials can outperform natural ones. It only carries a negative "fake" or "not genuine" sense when used figuratively, as in "a synthetic smile."
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