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adj. 1. a. Made by humans, especially in imitation of something natural: an artificial sweetener that replaces sugar; artificial flowers. b. Not arising from natural or necessary causes; contrived or arbitrary: "Hausa [in Niger] ... are separated from their brethren in Nigeria by a porous and artificial border that the colonial powers left behind" (Jeffrey Tayler). 2. Affected or insincere: an artificial smile. [Middle English, from Old French, from Latin artificiālis, belonging to art, from artificium, craftsmanship; see ARTIFICE.] ar′ti·fi′ci·ali·ty (-fĭsh′ē-ălĭ-tē) n. ar′ti·ficial·ly adv. |
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