man-made

adjective

ˈman-ˈmād 

-ˌmād

: manufactured, created, or constructed by human beings

specifically : synthetic

man-made fibers

Synonyms of man-made

• synthetic
• artificial
• faux
• simulated
• fake
• imitation

Examples of man-made in a Sentence

man-made diamonds that were really just glass

the houses in the new development are built around a man-made lake

Recent Examples on the Web

According to the School of Marine and Environmental Affairs at the University of Washington, blue spaces are natural or man-made outdoor settings that feature water in the form of rivers, lakes, oceans, ponds, canals or urban fountains. — Jeffrey Steele, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Why man-made instead of just going for the natural oil on its own? — Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Aug. 2026

Metallic or obviously man-made noises, of course, won’t be tolerated. — Alex Robinson, Outdoor Life, 12 Aug. 2026

Synthetic, man-made, and natural fibers can all contribute to environmental burdens, depending on how the textiles are processed and treated. — Cleo Levin, Footwear News, 3 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for man-made

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

man-made

adjective

ˈman-ˈmād

: made by people rather than nature

man-made satellites

especially : synthetic entry 1 sense 2

man-made fibers