synthesis

noun

syn·​the·​sis ˈsin(t)-thə-səs 

plural syntheses ˈsin(t)-thə-ˌsēz 

1

a

: the composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole

b

: the production of a substance by the union of chemical elements, groups, or simpler compounds or by the degradation of a complex compound

c

: the combining of often diverse conceptions into a coherent whole

also : the complex so formed

2

a

: deductive reasoning

b

philosophy : the dialectic combination of thesis and antithesis into a higher stage of truth

3

linguistics : the frequent and systematic use of inflected forms as a characteristic device of a language

Traditionally, the history of English grammar has been described in terms of the shift from synthesis to analysis, i.e. from a language which expresses the relationship between words by means of inflectional endings joined to lexical stems to one which maps such relationships by means of function words such as prepositions.

—Laurel Brinton and Alexander Bergs

compare analysis

synthesist

ˈsin(t)-thə-sist 

noun

Synonyms of synthesis

• mixture
• amalgamation
• blend
• mix
• amalgam
• alloy
• combination
• fusion

Examples of synthesis in a Sentence

a philosophy that is a kind of synthesis of several schools of Western and Eastern thought

Recent Examples on the Web

Large CROs like WuXi AppTec, which has over 38,000 employees and synthesizes over 500,000 compounds annually, have the headcount and infrastructure to run highly manual, multi-step synthesis programs. —Shimite Obialo, Forbes.com, 21 Jan. 2026

The result is a seamless fusion of acoustic warmth and digital synthesis that responds instantly to the player’s touch. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 Jan. 2026

The entry-level work that once functioned as a professional apprenticeship—research, synthesis, junior coding, coordination—is now being handled by autonomous systems. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 20 Jan. 2026

The team observed that even parasites lost vitamin C synthesis over the course of evolution. —Jay Kakade january 19, New Atlas, 19 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Greek, from syntithenai to put together, from syn- + tithenai to put, place — more at do

First Known Use

1589, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing synthesis

• synthesis gas

Rhymes for synthesis

• synthesise
• biosynthesis
• photosynthesis
• nucleosynthesis

Kids Definition

synthesis

noun

syn·​the·​sis ˈsin(t)-thə-səs 

plural syntheses -thə-ˌsēz 

1

: the combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole

especially : the production of a substance by union of chemically simpler substances

2

a

: the combining of often very different ideas into an ordered whole

b

: the product so formed

Medical Definition

synthesis

noun

syn·​the·​sis ˈsin(t)-thə-səs 

plural syntheses -ˌsēz 

1

: the composition or combination of parts or elements so as to form a whole

2

: the production of a substance by the union of chemical elements, groups, or simpler compounds or by the degradation of a complex compound

protein synthesis