synthesis

noun

syn·the·sis | \ ˈsin(t)-thə-səs

plural syntheses\ ˈsin(t)-thə-ˌsēz

Definition of synthesis

1a : 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

2a : deductive reasoning

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

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

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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

Tree of Life Vitamin C Eye Moisturizer Gel Vitamin C is a major ingredient in anti-aging skincare and overall skin health because of the antioxidant’s role in collagen synthesis. — Claudia Fisher, Health.com, "8 Anti-Aging Eye Creams on Sale for Prime Day That Are Too Good to Miss," 15 July 2019 And like The Jungle Book, The Lion King brilliantly melds Disney’s incomparable tradition of animation with its storied history of nature filmmaking to create a satisfying synthesis. — Kyle Smith, National Review, "The Conservative Pride of The Lion King," 11 July 2019 Topping off the crowded program are Jackeline Rago and Donna Viscuso’s VNote Ensemble, which has honed a singular synthesis of jazz and folkloric Venezuelan rhythms, and the hard-swinging Montclair Women’s Big Band. — Andrew Gilbert, The Mercury News, "Bay Area jazz women ready to celebrate a radio icon in Berkeley," 2 July 2019 But as more people have experienced Mexico’s extraordinary synthesis of Aztec, Mayan, European, Middle Eastern and global influence, and as chefs all over Latin America have begun to celebrate the vast region’s native cuisines, that is changing. — Julia Moskin, New York Times, "This Mexican Chef Is Having a Very Good Year," 4 June 2019 Among them were most of the knots that had been made experimentally to date, as well as new candidates for synthesis that included a 10-crossing and a 15-crossing knot. — Quanta Magazine, "Scientists Learn the Ropes on Tying Molecular Knots," 29 Oct. 2018 In its aftermath, a popular synthesis has emerged: Economic anxiety activated racial resentment, which means, comfortingly, that a better economy would calm our divisions. — Ezra Klein, Vox, "White threat in a browning America," 30 July 2018 Research has demonstrated that vitamin D receptors (VDR) act to increase muscle protein synthesis (creation) in postmenopausal women. — Mackie Shilstone, nola.com, "Vitamin D reduces risk to fat gain in old age," 19 June 2019 In a sense, Kershaw’s The Global Age: Europe 1950–2017, an adept and useful synthesis of an extraordinarily complex era, is the story of what happened next. — Anne Applebaum, The New York Review of Books, "The Lure of Western Europe," 6 June 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'synthesis.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

9 Aug 2019

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Time Traveler for synthesis

The first known use of synthesis was in 1589

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More Definitions for synthesis

synthesis

noun

English Language Learners Definition of synthesis

formal : something that is made by combining different things (such as ideas, styles, etc.)

technical : the production of a substance by combining simpler substances through a chemical process

: the production of sounds or speech by using electronic equipment

See the full definition for synthesis in the English Language Learners Dictionary

synthesis

noun

syn·the·sis | \ ˈsin(t)-thə-səs

plural syntheses\ -ˌsēz

Medical Definition of synthesis

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