synthetic

¹syn·thet·ic

adjective \sin-ˈthe-tik\

Definition of SYNTHETIC

1

: relating to or involving synthesis : not analytic <the synthetic aspects of a philosophy>

2

: attributing to a subject something determined by observation rather than analysis of the nature of the subject and not resulting in self-contradiction if negated — compare analytic

3

: characterized by frequent and systematic use of inflected forms to express grammatical relationships <synthetic languages>

4

a (1) : of, relating to, or produced by chemical or biochemical synthesis; especially : produced artificially <synthetic drugs> <synthetic silk> (2) : of or relating to a synfuel

b : devised, arranged, or fabricated for special situations to imitate or replace usual realities

c : factitious, bogus

— syn·thet·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of SYNTHETIC

1. <that organic farm doesn't use any pesticides or synthetic fertilizers>
2. <boots of waterproof synthetic leather>

Origin of SYNTHETIC

Greek synthetikos of composition, component, from syntithenai to put together

First Known Use: 1697

Related to SYNTHETIC

Synonyms

artificial, man-made, nonnatural

Antonyms

natural

Related Words

fabricated, manufactured; cultivated, processed, refined; industrial, mechanical; ersatz, faux, imitation

Near Antonyms

crude, raw

Other Logic Terms

a posteriori, connotation, corollary, inference, mutually exclusive, paradox, postulate, syllogism

Rhymes with SYNTHETIC

aesthetic, ascetic, athletic, balletic, bathetic, cometic, cosmetic, eidetic, emetic, frenetic, gametic, genetic, hermetic, limnetic, magnetic, mimetic, noetic, Ossetic, paretic, pathetic, phenetic, phonetic, phyletic, poetic, prophetic, prosthetic, pyretic, splenetic, syncretic, syndetic, tonetic, Venetic

²synthetic

noun

Definition of SYNTHETIC

: something resulting from synthesis rather than occurring naturally; especially : a product (as a drug or plastic) of chemical synthesis

Examples of SYNTHETIC

1. The drug is a synthetic.

First Known Use of SYNTHETIC

1916

Rhymes with SYNTHETIC

aesthetic, ascetic, cosmetic, emetic, magnetic, splenetic, Venetic