prosthetic

adjective

pros·​thet·​ic präs-ˈthe-tik 

1

: of, relating to, or being a prosthesis

a prosthetic limb

prosthetic devices

These researchers will develop ways to connect prostheses more soundly to the bone, coordinate brain signals with prosthetic movement, and create properly rotating artificial joints.

—Sheela Raman

Similar prevention is recommended if you have leaky, prolapsed, or prosthetic heart valves.

—Consumer Reports

also : of or relating to prosthetics

prosthetic research

2

: of, relating to, or constituting a nonprotein group of a conjugated protein

covalently bound prosthetic groups

a heme prosthetic group

prosthetically

präs-ˈthe-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of prosthetic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But the ways that makeup designers create pieces, especially to change a face, are really where the art of prosthetic makeup design comes in. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 7 Nov. 2025

Some of the prosthetic sessions would take up to 10 hours, depending on how much of your body needed to be covered that day. —Ew Staff, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Nov. 2025

There are women from all walks of life and all shapes and sizes — with prosthetic [limbs] and all shapes and sizes. —Frank Digiacomo, Billboard, 3 Nov. 2025

In honor of the party's close proximity to Muscle Beach, Money flexed her own prosthetic muscles in a chic vampire costume. —Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 1 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for prosthetic

• acetic
• aesthetic
• ascetic
• athletic
• cosmetic
• diegetic
• eidetic
• emetic
• esthetic
• frenetic
• genetic
• helvetic

Medical Definition

prosthetic

adjective

pros·​thet·​ic präs-ˈthet-ik 

1

: of, relating to, or being a prosthesis

a prosthetic device

prosthetic limbs

also : of or relating to prosthetics

prosthetic research

2

: of, relating to, or constituting a nonprotein group of a conjugated protein

prosthetically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb