synthetic Meaning, Definition & Usage

noun a compound made artificially by chemical reactions
synthetic substance.
adjective satellite not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially
man-made; semisynthetic.
- man-made fibers
- synthetic leather
adjective involving or of the nature of synthesis (combining separate elements to form a coherent whole) as opposed to analysis
synthetical.
- limnology is essentially a synthetic science composed of elements...that extend well beyond the limits of biology"- P.S.Welch
adjective systematic combining of root and modifying elements into single words
adjective of a proposition whose truth value is determined by observation or facts
synthetical.
- `all men are arrogant' is a synthetic proposition
adjective satellite artificial as if portrayed in a film
celluloid.
- a novel with flat celluloid characters
adjective satellite not genuine or natural
- counterfeit rhetoric that flourishes when passions are synthetic"- George Will

Gr. : cf. F. synthétique.

Of or pertaining to synthesis; consisting in synthesis or composition; as, the synthetic method of reasoning, as opposed to analytical.
Philosophers hasten too much from the analytic to the synthetic method; that is, they draw general conclusions from too small a number of particular observations and experiments. Bolingbroke.
(Chem.) Artificial. Cf. Synthesis, 2.
(Zoöl.) Comprising within itself structural or other characters which are usually found only in two or more diverse groups; -- said of species, genera, and higher groups. See the Note under Comprehensive, 3.