Artificial
/ˌɑːr.tɪˈfɪʃ.əl/noun
Made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, especially as a copy of something natural.
Did you know?The word 'artificial' stems from Latin roots meaning 'to craft' and has been linked to the idea of mimicking nature, almost like a spell of creation.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
artificialis
“pertaining to craftsmanship or craft-made.”
Old French
Old French
artificiel
“created by human skill.”
Middle English
Middle English
artificiale
“imitation of nature or skillfully made.”
Modern English
English
artificial
“created by human beings, often in contrast to the natural.”