Etymology Explorer › English

Where does “artificial” come from?

Artificial comes from Middle English artificial, from Old French artificiel, from Latin artificialis, derived from artifex meaning craftsman or artisan.

artificial (English): Man-made; of artifice; False, misleading;...

Definitions

  1. Man-made; of artifice; False, misleading;...

Ancestry of “artificial”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Latinartificialisartificial
2Latinartificiumart, craft, trade; skill, talent, artifice,...
3Latinartifexartist, actor; craftsman, master; mastermind,...
4Latinarsart; skill, craft, handicraft, trade, power
5Proto-Italicartis—
6Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂értisfitting
7Proto-Indo-Europeanh₂er-to fit, to fix, to put together

Words derived from “artificial”

  • artificially
  • artificiality
  • inartificial
  • bioartificial
  • unartificial
  • inartificially
  • artificialism
  • artificialness
  • artificialization
  • nonartificial
  • artificialist
  • semiartificial
  • artificialize
  • unartificially
  • inartificialness
  • artificial ice
Every word from Proto-Indo-European h₂er- →