What does artificiality mean?
Artificiality is a noun describing the condition of being artificial — that is, made by human effort and skill rather than arising naturally. It has two main uses. The first is broadly descriptive: it names the man-made character of things such as synthetic fabrics, engineered environments, or simulated experiences. The second is evaluative and usually critical: it denotes a lack of naturalness or sincerity, as when speech, emotion, or social manners seem stiff, rehearsed, or contrived. Writers and critics frequently invoke artificiality to fault works of art whose dialogue, characters, or plots feel forced, or to criticize social settings that strike them as hollow and performative. The word derives from the Latin root ars ('skill'), the same source as 'art,' which reflects an older view of the artificial as simply the product of craftsmanship. Though formal in register, artificiality remains a precise and useful term whenever the boundary between the natural and the manufactured matters.
nounThe quality or state of being made or produced by human skill rather than occurring naturally; also, the quality of being contrived, insincere, or lacking naturalness.
- The state or quality of being artificial; being man-made rather than natural.
- Lack of naturalness or sincerity; an affected or contrived manner.
"Critics noted the artificiality of the film's dialogue, as if every line had been rehearsed to death."
"Visitors to the botanical garden marveled at how the artificiality of the climate-controlled dome vanished once they stepped inside among the palms."
"Her smile struck him as warm at first glance, but he could not shake the sense of artificiality beneath it."
As an abstract quality noun, 'artificiality' is almost always used in the singular; a plural form would be grammatically possible but is rarely encountered in practice.
"Each era's art displays its own distinctive artificialities."
The word 'artificiality' is built from the same Latin root — ars, meaning 'skill' — that gave us 'art' itself: what we now call fake was once simply human craft.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of artificiality
Artificiality comes from the Latin artificialis, derived from artificium (a work of skill or craftsmanship), which itself stems from ars, meaning 'art' or 'skill.' The underlying root entered English via Old French and Middle English, giving rise to words like 'artifice,' 'artifact,' and 'artisan.' The noun 'artificiality,' formed from the adjective 'artificial' with the suffix '-ity,' became established in English usage by the early 17th century, retaining the dual sense of skilled human making and, later, contrived unnaturalness.
How artificiality is actually used
'Artificiality' is largely a formal or literary word, common in criticism of art, literature, and social behavior. In its second sense it carries a negative connotation, implying insincerity or contrivance; in its first sense it is often neutral, merely describing something man-made.
Easily confused with artificiality
'Artifice' refers to clever trickery or a deceptive device, while 'artificiality' is the abstract quality of being unnatural or manufactured rather than genuine.