[Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/synthetic.html)

[home](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/) / [dictionaries](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/) / [The school dictionary](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/) / synthetic

[← S](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/S/)

# synthetic

«synthetic» in Mova's school dictionary: **made by people from chemicals or in a factory, not…** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples.

### part of speech

adjective (synthetic); noun (a synthetic, synthetics)

### meaning for a pupil

1) Synthetic means made by people from chemicals or in a factory, not naturally grown or found: synthetic materials such as nylon, polyester and plastic. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#m1)

2) Synthetic also means fake or artificial: synthetic flavours, synthetic diamonds. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#m2)

3) (noun) Synthetics are synthetic materials or fabrics. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#m3)

4) (formal, science) Synthetic can mean made by combining parts into a whole (synthesis). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#m4)

### sense in the lessons

In science lessons materials are sorted into natural (wool, cotton, wood) and synthetic (nylon, polyester, acrylic, plastics); pupils compare their properties, such as strength and waterproofing, and discuss pollution from microplastics. On food labels, synthetic colourings may be listed. Phrases: "synthetic fibre", "synthetic rubber", "synthetic grass", "synthetic drug".

### examples

- Nylon is a synthetic fibre. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x1)
- My raincoat is made of a synthetic material that keeps water out. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x2)
- Wool is natural, but polyester is synthetic. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x3)
- The pitch has synthetic grass, so it never needs mowing. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x4)
- Synthetic rubber is made from oil. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x5)
- Synthetic diamonds are made in labs. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x6)
- Washing synthetics can release tiny plastic bits into the sea. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/#x7)

### note

Opposite: natural. Related: synthesis, synthesise. Synthetic does not always mean worse; many synthetic materials are very useful, such as medicines and safety gear.

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «synthetic» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/synthetic/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.