What does synthesise mean?
To synthesise is to bring separate things together so that they form a coherent whole. The term is especially common in academic and technical writing: a researcher may synthesise evidence from several studies, a scientist may synthesise observations into a model, or a writer may synthesise competing arguments into a single interpretation. The word suggests more than a simple mixture, because the components are combined in a way that preserves their meaning while creating a unified result. It can also describe the physical joining of components, as in the synthesis of a new material or instrument. Outside specialist contexts, the verb often carries a slightly formal tone. Its familiar relatives include synthesis, the resulting unified entity, and synthetic, meaning made or produced through combination.
verbTo combine separate elements or information into a coherent whole. It can also mean to create something by combining different components.
- To combine separate elements or information into a coherent whole.
- To create a unified entity or system by bringing different components together.
"The report synthesises data from several independent studies to identify a common pattern."
"The essay synthesises several historical arguments into a clear interpretation of the period."
"The engineers synthesised information from the sensors to produce a precise model of the building."
A synthesiser turns separate ingredients into a unified sound; the same word applies whenever distinct ideas become one coherent account.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does synthesise come from?
The word comes from Greek synthesis, a combining of the elements syn-, meaning “together,” and -thesis, meaning “placing” or “setting.” English borrowed the noun in the 17th century and developed the verb in the 19th century. The same roots appear in synthetic and synthesizer, which likewise concern combining materials or information into a unified form.
Related word forms
How synthesise is actually used
Common in academic, scientific, technical, and analytical contexts. British English normally uses the ending -ise, while American English normally uses -ize.