French word

artificiel

Pronunciation

IPA/aʁtifisjɛl/

Meaning

  • adjectiveartificial

Example

Son sourire artificiel ne me convainc pas.

His artificial smile doesn't convince me.

Illustration for artificiel (artificial)

More examples

L'intelligence artificielle façonne notre quotidien.

Artificial intelligence shapes our daily lives.

Core concept

A crafted substitute stands in for the natural thing, or a polished expression hides what is genuinely felt.

Common phrases

  • intelligence artificielle

    artificial intelligence

  • sourire artificiel

    artificial smile

  • arôme artificiel

    artificial aroma

Similar words

faux: Not genuine, with only the appearance of being real or sincere.
forcé: Seeming unnatural because an expression or attitude is deliberately produced.
factice: Made as a decorative imitation or substitute rather than being genuine.
synthétique: Chemically made as a substitute for a naturally occurring material.

Definition in French

Qualifie ce qui n'est pas naturel mais imité ou fabriqué par l'homme; au figuré, décrit une attitude ou un sourire qui paraît feint.

Word origin

French artificiel derives from Latin artificialis, which is related to artificium, a work made through human skill.

Usage tips

  • For a person's manner or smile, artificiel sounds openly negative, while peu naturel is often a softer choice.

Other meanings

  • fakeadjective
  • syntheticadjective
  • unnaturaladjective

Opposites

Related words

Word lists with this word