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artificiality

 - 2 dictionary results

ar⋅ti⋅fi⋅ci⋅al⋅i⋅ty

  [ahr-tuh-fish-ee-al-i-tee]
Use artificiality in a Sentence
–noun, plural -ties.
1. artificial quality.
2. an artificial thing or trait: artificialities of speech.
Origin:
1755–65; artificial + -ity
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To artificiality
ar·ti·fi·cial   (är'tə-fĭsh'əl)   
adj.  

    1. Made by humans; produced rather than natural.

    2. Brought about or caused by sociopolitical or other human-generated forces or influences: set up artificial barriers against women and minorities; an artificial economic boom.

  2. Made in imitation of something natural; simulated: artificial teeth.

  3. Not genuine or natural: an artificial smile.


[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin artificiālis, belonging to art, from artificium, craftsmanship; see artifice.]
ar'ti·fi'ci·al'i·ty (-fĭsh'ē-āl'ĭ-tē) n., ar'ti·fi'cial·ly adv.
Synonyms: These adjectives refer to what is made by humans rather than natural in origin. Artificial is broadest in meaning and connotation: an artificial sweetener; artificial flowers.
Synthetic often implies the use of a chemical process to produce a substance that will look or function like the original, often with certain advantages: synthetic rubber; a synthetic fabric.
An ersatz product is a transparently inferior imitation: ersatz coffee; ersatz mink.
Simulated often refers to a fabricated substitute or imitation of a costlier substance: simulated diamonds.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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