English · Word Candidate

synthetic

/sɪnˈθɛtɪk/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: synthetics

Sense 1

Meaning · English

Of, or relating to synthesis.

Adjective

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Produced by synthesis instead of being isolated from a natural source (but may be identical to a product so obtained).

Adjective

Examples

As the world's drug habit shows, governments are failing in their quest to monitor every London window-box and Andean hillside for banned plants. But even that Sisyphean task looks easy next to the fight against synthetic drugs. No sooner has a drug been blacklisted than chemists adjust their recipe

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

A synthetic compound.

Noun

Examples

Only plastics and synthetics that cannot be recycled will end up in landfills, he said.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “synthetic” mean?

Of, or relating to synthesis.

Is “synthetic” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.