synthetic
gb/sɪnθˈɛtɪk/ us/sɪnθˈɛtɪk/
B1
English
~ 7900
szintetikus, mesterséges, szintetikus anyag, mesterkélt, hamis, szintetizált
B1
1
szintetikus
B2
mesterséges
B1
Usage pattern:
synthetic [material/substance]
These shoes are made from synthetic leather instead of real animal skin.
Ezek a cipők műbőrből készültek, nem valódi állati bőrből.
Many athletes prefer synthetic fabrics that dry quickly and breathe well.
Sok sportoló előnyben részesíti a szintetikus anyagokat, amelyek gyorsan száradnak és jól szellőznek.
The company is developing a synthetic fuel to replace gasoline.
Synthetic rubber is widely used in car tires.
Some people are allergic to synthetic chemicals in perfumes.
Learner examples
This jacket is synthetic, not real leather.
Ez a dzseki műbőrből van, nem valódi bőrből.
The shirt is made of synthetic fiber.
Az ing szintetikus szálból készült.
She wants a rug made from natural wool, not synthetic material.
Synthetic carpets are usually cheaper than wool ones.
I try to avoid foods with too many synthetic colors.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use *plastic* instead of *synthetic* for any man-made material. *Plastic* is one specific type of synthetic material, while *synthetic* is a broader word for anything not natural. Learners also confuse *synthetic* with *fake*: *synthetic* is neutral and technical, while *fake* is negative and often about value or honesty.
Meaning
artificial, not naturally occurring
Collocations
synthetic fibers
|synthetic fabrics
|synthetic materials
|synthetic leather
|synthetic rubber
|synthetic chemicals
Synonyms
artificial (Very close in meaning; can also describe behavior and situations, not only materials.)
|
man-made (Stresses human origin; slightly more informal and often used for large things like lakes or islands.)
|
manufactured (Highlights industrial production rather than the contrast with nature.)
Antonyms
natural (Describes things that come from nature without significant human change.)
Themes
science
|materials
|daily life
|technology
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Made by people in a factory or lab, not taken directly from nature.
Produced by chemical or industrial processes rather than found in nature, especially referring to materials or substances.
NOUN
B2
2
Usage pattern:
wear [synthetics]
In hot weather, some people find synthetics less comfortable than cotton.
Meleg időben egyesek kevésbé kényelmesnek találják a szintetikus anyagokat, mint a pamutot.
This sports shirt is a mix of synthetics and natural fibers.
Ez a sportpóló szintetikus anyagok és természetes szálak keverékéből készült.
The label says to wash synthetics in cold water only.
He prefers synthetics because they are easier to care for.
The skirt feels like silk, but it's actually a synthetic.
Learner examples
I do not like synthetics in summer.
Nyáron nem szeretem a szintetikus anyagokat.
These pants are synthetics, not cotton.
Ez a nadrág szintetikus anyagból van, nem pamutból.
The dress is made from a soft synthetic.
Some synthetics dry very fast.
She wears synthetics for running.
Common mistake:
Learners may say *a synthetic material* when talking about clothing, where native speakers often simply say *synthetics* or name the material (*polyester*, *nylon*). Also, some learners incorrectly treat *synthetics* as singular, saying *this synthetics is cheap* instead of *these synthetics are cheap* or *this synthetic fabric is cheap*.
Meaning
man-made fabric or material
Collocations
wear synthetics
|natural fibers and synthetics
|wash synthetics
|synthetics and blends
|made from synthetics
Synonyms
man-made fiber (More specific to textile fibers; less general than *synthetic*.)
|
synthetic fabric (Common phrase that specifically refers to cloth materials rather than all artificial substances.)
Antonyms
natural fibers (Refers to textile materials like cotton or wool that come directly from plants or animals.)
Themes
materials
|clothing
|technology
|daily_life
Definition
A material like cloth or fiber that people make in a factory, not something natural like cotton or wool.
A man-made material such as a fabric, fiber, or other substance that is produced chemically rather than found in nature.
C1
INFORMAL
3
mesterkélt
B2
hamis
B1
Usage pattern:
synthetic [emotion/behavior]
He gave me a synthetic smile and quickly looked away.
Mesterkélt mosolyt villantott rám, majd gyorsan félrenézett.
Her praise sounded synthetic, as if she didn't really mean it.
A dicsérete mesterkéltnek hangzott, mintha nem is gondolná komolyan.
There was a synthetic warmth in his voice that made me distrust him.
The host's synthetic enthusiasm made the show feel uncomfortable.
Guests complained about the hotel's synthetic friendliness toward customers.
Learner examples
His smile was synthetic and cold.
A mosolya mesterkélt és hideg volt.
Her laugh sounded synthetic to me.
Nekem mesterkéltnek hangzott a nevetése.
I do not like his synthetic charm.
The apology was synthetic, not real.
Their interest in us felt synthetic.
Common mistake:
Learners much more often say *fake* or *not sincere*. *Synthetic* in this sense is rarer and can sound a bit literary or old-fashioned. It should not be used for things like *fake money* or *fake news*; in those cases *fake* or *false* is correct, not *synthetic*.
Meaning
insincere or fake in feeling
Collocations
synthetic smile
|synthetic charm
|synthetic friendliness
|synthetic enthusiasm
|synthetic sympathy
Synonyms
fake (Very close in meaning; more common and a bit stronger and more negative.)
|
phony (Informal and strongly critical; often used in American English.)
|
insincere (More formal and neutral; often used in writing and polite criticism.)
Antonyms
genuine (Emphasizes that feelings or behavior are real and honest.)
|
sincere (Focuses on honesty and true feeling, especially in speech and behavior.)
Themes
emotions
|evaluation
|communication
|relationships
Definition
Not real or honest; used when a person only seems friendly or kind but does not really feel that way.
Appearing friendly, warm, or emotional but not showing true or honest feelings.
C1
TECHNICAL
4
szintetikus
C1
szintetizált
C1
Usage pattern:
synthetic [compound/process/method]
The team developed a new synthetic route to the drug molecule.
A kutatócsoport új szintézisútvonalat dolgozott ki a gyógyszermolekula előállítására.
Synthetic organic chemistry has made many life-saving medicines possible.
A szintetikus szerves kémia számos életmentő gyógyszer létrehozását tette lehetővé.
We compared the natural product with its synthetic equivalent.
Optimizing the synthetic pathway reduced the cost of production.
The researchers reported improved yields under mild synthetic conditions.
Learner examples
This medicine is a synthetic version of a plant chemical.
Ez a gyógyszer egy növényi vegyület szintetikus változata.
They work on synthetic methods in an organic chemistry lab.
Szintézismódszereken dolgoznak egy szerves kémiai laborban.
The company sells both natural and synthetic vitamins.
A new synthetic pathway made the drug cheaper.
We study synthetic routes to complex molecules.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes think *synthetic* only means *fake* or *low quality*. In chemistry and pharmacy, *synthetic* is neutral and does not say anything about safety or quality.
Meaning
involving chemical synthesis
Collocations
synthetic pathway
|synthetic route
|synthetic method
|synthetic organic chemistry
|synthetic intermediate
|synthetic conditions
Synonyms
laboratory-made (Non-technical phrase; stresses that something is made in a lab rather than occurring in nature.)
|
synthetically produced (Variant wording using an adverb; common in scientific writing.)
Antonyms
natural (Used in chemistry to describe compounds isolated directly from organisms or natural sources.)
|
biosynthetic (Specifically refers to compounds made by living organisms rather than in a lab.)
Themes
science
|chemistry
|technology
Definition
Made or studied by joining simple chemicals together to build more complex ones, usually in a lab or factory.
Relating to or produced by chemical synthesis of compounds, especially in laboratory or industrial settings.
C2
TECHNICAL
5
szintetikus
C2
Usage pattern:
synthetic [proposition/judgment/truth]
"The cat is on the mat" is a standard example of a synthetic proposition.
„A macska a szőnyegen van” a szintetikus állítás egyik szokásos példája.
Kant's distinction between analytic and synthetic judgments is central to modern philosophy.
Kant analitikus és szintetikus ítéletek közötti megkülönböztetése központi jelentőségű a modern filozófiában.
They argue that moral claims are synthetic rather than analytic truths.
The course begins with the classic analytic–synthetic debate.
Some philosophers question whether synthetic a priori knowledge is possible.
Learner examples
In logic class we talked about synthetic and analytic sentences.
A logikaórán szintetikus és analitikus állításokról beszéltünk.
A synthetic statement needs facts about the world to check if it is true.
Egy szintetikus állítás igazságának ellenőrzéséhez a világról szóló tényekre van szükség.
"All bachelors are lonely" would be a synthetic claim, not an analytic one.
Many students find the analytic–synthetic difference hard to understand.
We learned that some math claims might be synthetic a priori.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse *synthetic* here with *artificial*. In philosophy, *synthetic* does not mean *fake* or *man-made*; it only describes how the truth of a sentence depends on the world versus on word meanings.
Meaning
proposition true by how world is
Collocations
synthetic proposition
|synthetic a priori
|synthetic judgment
|analytic and synthetic
|synthetic truth
Synonyms
empirical (Often overlaps, but *empirical* stresses being based on observation or experience, not the analytic–synthetic distinction itself.)
Antonyms
analytic (Describes a proposition that is true solely by virtue of word meanings and logical form.)
Themes
philosophy
|linguistics
|education
|science
Definition
Used in philosophy to talk about a sentence that is true or false because of real things in the world, not only because of the meaning of the words.
In philosophy and logic, describing a statement whose truth or falsity depends on how the world actually is, not just on the meanings of the words used.
C2
TECHNICAL
6
szintetikus
C1
Usage pattern:
synthetic [language/structure]
Latin is often cited as a highly synthetic language.
A latint gyakran említik erősen szintetikus nyelvként.
They compared analytic and synthetic languages in terms of word length.
Az analitikus és a szintetikus nyelveket a szavak hossza szempontjából hasonlították össze.
Over time, English has become less synthetic and more analytic.
The course covers morphological typology, including isolating and synthetic languages.
Synthetic structures pack a lot of grammatical information into a single word.
Learner examples
Russian is a synthetic language with many case endings.
Az orosz szintetikus nyelv, sok esetvégződéssel.
Old English was more synthetic than modern English.
Az óangol szintetikusabb volt, mint a mai angol.
Some languages are analytic, and some are synthetic.
In a synthetic language, one word can have many endings.
We studied synthetic and analytic language types.
Meaning
language with many inflections
Collocations
synthetic language
|highly synthetic
|analytic and synthetic languages
|synthetic morphology
Synonyms
inflectional (Overlapping but not identical; *inflectional* focuses specifically on endings and forms, while *synthetic* is a broader typological label.)
Antonyms
analytic (Describes languages that show grammar mostly with separate words and word order, not inflection.)
Themes
linguistics
|communication
|education
Definition
Used for a type of language where one word often has many endings or parts that show grammar, like tense or case.
In linguistics, describing a language that primarily expresses grammatical relationships by means of inflection, affixes, or changes within words rather than by separate function words or fixed word order.
C2
TECHNICAL
7
szintetikus
C2
Usage pattern:
synthetic [geometry/proof]
The course focuses on synthetic geometry rather than coordinate methods.
A kurzus a koordinátás módszerek helyett a szintetikus geometriára összpontosít.
They gave a purely synthetic proof of the theorem.
A tételre tisztán szintetikus bizonyítást adtak.
Euclid's Elements is a classic work of synthetic geometry.
Some students prefer synthetic approaches to visualize geometric facts.
The analytic and synthetic treatments lead to the same result.
Learner examples
We studied synthetic geometry in class.
Az órán szintetikus geometriát tanultunk.
The teacher showed a synthetic proof without using numbers.
A tanár számok használata nélkül mutatott be egy szintetikus bizonyítást.
Analytic and synthetic methods can give the same answer.
Synthetic geometry uses lines and circles, not coordinates.
He enjoys the synthetic style of Euclid.
Meaning
non-analytic, axiomatic geometry style
Collocations
synthetic geometry
|synthetic proof
|purely synthetic argument
|synthetic approach
Synonyms
non-analytic (Describes approaches that do not use analytic methods; less specific but often used in contrast to *analytic geometry*.)
Antonyms
analytic (In geometry, refers to methods that use coordinates, equations, and algebraic tools.)
Themes
mathematics
|logic
|science
|education
Definition
Used in math, especially geometry, for proofs and ideas that use shapes, diagrams, and basic rules, not numbers and equations.
In mathematics and logic, especially geometry, based on direct reasoning from axioms and definitions without using algebraic formulas or coordinate systems.
Grammar
Dictionary form
synthetic
IPA
GB/sɪnθˈɛtɪk/
US/sɪnθˈɛtɪk/
Syllables & stress
syn - thet - ic (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (thet)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: synthetic
Noun
- Base: synthetic
- Plural: synthetics
Word family
Forms
synthetics
noun
Core family
Related words
synthesizer
noun
Negative and opposite forms
natural
adjective A2
Expressions
synthetic biology
1/sɪnθˈɛtɪk baɪˈɑləd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
field designing new biological systems
A part of science where people design and build new living systems or parts of cells, often by changing DNA.
Examples
- She is doing her PhD in synthetic biology.
- Synthetic biology could help create bacteria that clean pollution.
- There are ethical debates about how far synthetic biology should go.
synthetic drug
1/sɪnθˈɛtɪk dɹˈʌɡ/
fixed phrase
chemically made drug
A medicine or illegal drug that people make in a lab using chemicals, not taken directly from a plant or other natural source.
Examples
- The new treatment uses a synthetic drug that is easier to produce.
- Police seized large amounts of a dangerous synthetic drug.
- Many modern painkillers are synthetic drugs rather than plant extracts.
synthetic fabric
1/sɪnθˈɛtɪk fˈæbɹɪk/
fixed phrase
cloth from man-made fibers
Cloth that is made from man-made fibers like polyester or acrylic, not from natural fibers like cotton or wool.
Examples
- She prefers natural materials and avoids synthetic fabric whenever possible.
- Synthetic fabric is lightweight and easy to wash.
- The curtains are made of a flame-resistant synthetic fabric.
synthetic fiber
1/sɪnθˈɛtɪk fˈaɪbɚ/
fixed phrase
man-made textile fiber
A thin, thread-like material made in a factory and used to make cloth, such as polyester or nylon.
Examples
- This shirt is made from a synthetic fiber that dries very quickly.
- Synthetic fibers are often cheaper than natural ones like cotton or wool.
- The company is developing a new synthetic fiber for sportswear.
synthetic fragrance
1/sɪnθˈɛtɪk fɹˈeɪɡɹəns/
fixed phrase
artificially made scent
A smell used in perfumes, soaps, or cleaners that is made from chemicals in a lab, not taken directly from flowers, fruits, or other natural things.
Examples
- The lotion contains both natural oils and synthetic fragrances.
- Some people are sensitive to synthetic fragrance in cleaning products.
- The brand advertises its perfumes as free from synthetic fragrances.
synthetic fuel
1/sɪnθˈɛtɪk fjˈul/
fixed phrase
artificially produced fuel
Fuel for cars, planes, or power stations that is made in factories from things like coal, natural gas, or captured CO₂ instead of taken from crude oil.
Examples
- The company is investing in synthetic fuels for aviation.
- Synthetic fuel could help reduce dependence on oil.
- New plants will turn captured carbon into synthetic fuel.
synthetic leather
1/sɪnθˈɛtɪk lˈɛðɚ/
fixed phrase
artificial leather-like material
A man-made material that looks like real leather but does not come from animals.
Examples
- These boots are made of synthetic leather, not real leather.
- Synthetic leather is often used in car seats and bags.
- Some people choose synthetic leather for animal-rights reasons.
synthetic material
1/sɪnθˈɛtɪk mətˈɪɹiəl/
fixed phrase
artificially produced substance
Any kind of thing, like plastic, rubber, or cloth, that people make in factories instead of taking directly from nature.
Examples
- The furniture is made from durable synthetic materials.
- Many everyday products now use synthetic materials instead of wood or metal.
- This jacket combines natural wool and a synthetic material for extra strength.
synthetic rubber
1/sɪnθˈɛtɪk ɹˈʌbɚ/
fixed phrase
man-made rubber material
A stretchy material made in factories that is used instead of or together with natural rubber.
Examples
- Most modern car tires are made from synthetic rubber.
- Synthetic rubber was developed when natural rubber became hard to get.
- The lab tested a new type of synthetic rubber for extreme temperatures.
synthetic speech
1/sɪnθˈɛtɪk spˈit͡ʃ/
fixed phrase
technical
computer-generated voice output
Spoken words that a computer or machine creates, not a real human voice.
Examples
- Modern navigation systems use very natural-sounding synthetic speech.
- Researchers are working to make synthetic speech more expressive.
- The device reads text out loud using synthetic speech.