synthetic
sin-THET-ik
/sɪnˈθɛtɪk/
Made by chemical synthesis, especially to imitate a natural product; not genuine or natural.
In biology, 'synthetic biology' involves creating entirely new DNA sequences that don't exist in nature.
The story behind the word. From the Greek 'sunthetikos,' meaning 'placed together.' It describes the act of taking separate parts and combining them into a new, unified whole.
Word relationships
- artificial: Artificial is a broader term for anything man-made; synthetic specifically implies a process of 'synthesis' or putting components together.
- natural: Existing in or derived from nature; not made or caused by humankind.
Commonly confused with
- plastic: Plastic is a specific type of synthetic material; not all synthetic things are plastic.
Word family
- synthesis (noun): The combination of components or elements to form a connected whole.
- synthesize (verb): To make something by synthesis.
Collocations
- synthetic biology
- synthetic material
- synthetic fertilizer
Example sentences
- "Synthetic fibers like polyester are often more durable than natural cotton but less breathable." Discussion of modern fabrics.
- "Researchers are using synthetic DNA to create vaccines that can be produced much faster than traditional methods." The future of medicine.
Memory hook
Syn (Together) + Thesis (Place). Placed together by humans. Man-made assembly.
When not to use
Don't use for things that are simply 'fake' in a social sense; it usually implies a chemical or biological creation.
Fun facts
- The first fully synthetic plastic, Bakelite, was invented in 1907.
Related words
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