artificial
adjective B2
Plain meaning
made by people rather than natural
Exam-register meaning
In exam writing, it can express made by people rather than natural in a clearer or more formal way.
In context
naturalHis response sounded artificial, so the conversation became difficult.
examThe passage presents a artificial assessment of the policy’s wider consequences.
Common collocations
a artificial responseartificial behavioura artificial situation
Watch out
Do not use “very artificial” automatically; some advanced adjectives already carry a strong meaning or need a more natural intensifier.
Word family
artifice (noun)artificially (adverb)