artificial

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "artificial" is a correct and usable word in written English.
It is an adjective that can be used to describe something that is created or made by people rather than naturally occurring in nature. Example: The artificial island was built in order to increase the population of the city.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

The music may be real, but everything else is artificial.

The Guardian

His artificial trees are not yet cost-effective to produce but Shepherd said it was probably just a matter of time.

The Guardian

And in the US, though breast pumps, vasectomies and artificial teeth are sales tax-exempt and tax-deductible medical care, tampons are not even exempted from sales tax in some states (including California and New York, two of the most populous states).

The Guardian - Opinion

The project was later abandoned, but not before the blasting of an enormous artificial lagoon with sea access.

The Guardian - Travel

In reducing tuition fees to an artificial level, Labour would jeopardise the value, worth and quality of British degrees.

The Guardian

Once computers are in full control of our cars, do we even need traffic lights at intersections? That's the idea behind AIM – autonomous intersection management – at the artificial intelligence laboratory at the University of Texas at Austin.

The Guardian - Tech

Artist Howard Hodgkin once said the house was "as romantic and artificial as I had hoped" and it is.

The Guardian - Arts

"I remember how," she later said, "during the war, a bombing once led to the accidental unearthing of a carved Anglo-Norman capital in which the artificial colouring of the stone had somehow been preserved.

The Guardian - Arts

Some islands are artificial, such as the obscenely expensive projects of Qatar's Pearl resorts or Dubai's Palm Islands.

The Guardian - Music

The guide, he said, "helpfully" defines "evening civil twilight" as "'that period between sunset and total darkness when it is necessary to use artificial light to carry out most activities'.

The Guardian

In recent years, huge advances in digital cameras have enabled photographers to work in much lower light, capturing animals at dusk without artificial lighting, or immortalising fast-moving, never-before-seen events in nature.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing something as "artificial", ensure you're clear about what natural counterpart it is imitating or replacing. This adds clarity and avoids ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "artificial" as a generic negative descriptor. Always specify why something is considered artificial and what the implications are.

Linguistic Context

The word "artificial" functions primarily as an adjective. It modifies nouns to indicate that something is man-made or not naturally occurring. Ludwig provides numerous examples illustrating its use in various contexts, confirming its role as a descriptive term.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

35%

Science

33%

Formal & Business

12%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

8%

Wiki

6%

Reference

6%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The adjective "artificial" is frequently employed across diverse fields to denote something man-made or not naturally occurring. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and provides numerous examples from reliable sources, highlighting its widespread use in contexts ranging from news and media to science and business. While generally neutral in tone, its use can sometimes imply a comparison to a natural counterpart, influencing the perceived authenticity or value of the subject. Consider alternatives such as "synthetic", "man-made", or "simulated" to achieve nuanced expression.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

synthetic

Refers to something made by chemical synthesis, rather than being naturally produced.

man-made

Highlights the human creation aspect, emphasizing that something is made by people.

simulated

Indicates that something is created to imitate or resemble something else.

unnatural

Focuses on the deviation from what is considered natural or organic.

contrived

Suggests that something is deliberately created in a way that seems artificial or unrealistic.

fabricated

Emphasizes that something is constructed or invented, often implying deception.

manufactured

Highlights the industrial production of something.

imitated

Implies copying or mirroring something else, suggesting a lack of originality.

pseudo

Indicates that something is not genuine but pretends to be.

ersatz

Describes a substitute or imitation, typically of inferior quality.

FAQs

How can I use "artificial" in a sentence?

You can use "artificial" to describe something that is man-made or not naturally occurring, such as "artificial sweeteners" or "artificial intelligence".

What can I say instead of "artificial"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "synthetic", "man-made", or "simulated".

What's the difference between "artificial" and "synthetic"?

"Artificial" generally means made by humans, while "synthetic" specifically refers to something created through chemical synthesis.

Is it always negative to describe something as "artificial"?

Not necessarily. While "artificial" can sometimes imply a lack of authenticity or lower quality, it can also simply describe something made by humans for a specific purpose, without negative connotation.