synthetic
/sɪnˈθet.ɪk/- 1.
Made by chemical processes, not found naturally. Synthetic materials are often used in clothing, plastics, and medicine.
- This jacket is made of synthetic fabric.
- Synthetic rubber is used in car tyres.
- The perfume has a synthetic smell.
- 2.
Not natural or genuine; made to look real or feel real. This use often describes things like voices, emotions, or language.
- The movie's city looked synthetic.
- Her apology sounded synthetic.
- The crowd's excitement felt synthetic.
Adinary Nuance
Synthetic is close to artificial, but it often sounds more technical and material-focused. Use synthetic for things made by humans, especially chemicals, fabrics, or products. Artificial can be broader and can also describe something fake, unnatural, or less real in feeling. In everyday English, synthetic may sound more neutral than artificial when talking about materials.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tổng hợp
- Spanish
- sintético
- Chinese
- 合成的
- Japanese
- 合成の
- Korean
- 합성의
Etymology
Synthetic comes from Greek sunthetikos, meaning 'put together'. It came into English through French in the 17th century. The word later became common in science and industry.
Common phrases
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is synthetic the same as artificial?
- Not exactly. Synthetic usually means made by chemical or human processes. Artificial is wider and can mean fake or not natural.
- Is synthetic a formal word?
- Yes, it is common in science, business, and writing. It is less common in casual speech than man-made or fake.
- Can I say synthetic for clothes?
- Yes. Synthetic clothes are made from man-made fibres, like polyester or nylon.
- What is the opposite of synthetic?
- Natural is the most common opposite. In some contexts, genuine or organic may also work.