artifice
gb/ˈɑɹtəfɪs/ us/ˈɑɹtəfɪs/
C1
Anglais
Sens
0 sens
Nom
formal
C1
entity
1
a clever trick to deceive
a clever trick used to fool people
Schéma d’usage :
[an] artifice to [do something]; through/by artifice
Erreur fréquente :
Often confused with artifact (an object) or artificial (not natural).
Synonymes
trick (More general and everyday; less formal.)
|
ruse (Emphasizes a deceptive plan, often short-term.)
|
stratagem (Suggests a planned tactic, often in politics or conflict.)
Antonymes
honesty (Direct truthfulness rather than deception.)
|
candor (Open, frank speech with no attempt to mislead.)
Collocations
a clever artifice
|a legal artifice
|a political artifice
|a marketing artifice
|a transparent artifice
|a calculated artifice
|an artifice to avoid taxes
|an artifice to gain time
|through artifice
|mere artifice
Thèmes
crime
|politics
|business
|law
|communication
Exemples
- The charity was a front—an artifice to move stolen money.
- He used a legal artifice to delay the eviction for months.
- Her sudden tears felt like an artifice designed to win sympathy.
Exemples pédagogiques
- It was an artifice to confuse the public.
- He saw through her artifice.
Nom
formal
C1
entity
2
a contrived device for effect
a technique that feels planned or not natural, used to create an effect
Schéma d’usage :
[adjective] artifice; the artifice of [a work/argument]
Erreur fréquente :
In reviews, artifice often means “contrived technique,” not necessarily “a lie.”
Synonymes
device (Neutral term for a technique; less critical in tone.)
|
contrivance (Often implies something forced or unnatural.)
|
gimmick (More informal; suggests a showy, attention-grabbing device.)
Antonymes
naturalism (A style aiming for natural, lifelike presentation rather than contrived effects.)
|
simplicity (Lack of elaborate technique or manipulation.)
Collocations
narrative artifice
|literary artifice
|dramatic artifice
|cinematic artifice
|a stylistic artifice
|a structural artifice
|a clever artifice
|a clumsy artifice
|an obvious artifice
|a theatrical artifice
Thèmes
arts
|media
|literature
|education
|communication
Exemples
- The sudden amnesia felt like a narrative artifice rather than a believable twist.
- The director uses a clever cinematic artifice to show two timelines at once.
- She dismissed the comparison as a rhetorical artifice that distracts from the facts.
Exemples pédagogiques
- Some readers dislike obvious artifice in stories.
Nom
formal
C1
property
3
insincere or affected behavior
behavior that is not sincere or is too carefully made
Schéma d’usage :
without artifice; beneath/behind the artifice of [something]
Erreur fréquente :
This meaning is close to “pretence,” not “a physical object.”
Synonymes
pretense (Directly focuses on pretending or putting on a false show.)
|
affectation (Emphasizes unnatural, performative manners or style.)
|
insincerity (General lack of genuine feeling or truth.)
Antonymes
sincerity (Genuine feeling without pretense.)
|
authenticity (Being real and true to oneself rather than performing.)
Collocations
social artifice
|the artifice of politeness
|the artifice of charm
|beneath the artifice
|behind the artifice
|stripped of artifice
|free of artifice
|full of artifice
|sheer artifice
|polite artifice
Thèmes
emotions
|relationships
|communication
|society
Exemples
- She spoke with a warmth that seemed free of artifice.
- Behind the artifice of politeness, he was clearly irritated.
- The interview was unusually direct, with very little artifice.
Exemples pédagogiques
- I like her because she has no artifice.
Nom
literary
C2
property
4
skillful craftsmanship or workmanship
high skill in making something
Schéma d’usage :
the artifice of [a maker/craft]; [adjective] artifice
Erreur fréquente :
In modern English this sense is less common; many listeners will first think of “deception.”
Synonymes
craftsmanship (The most common modern word for skilled making.)
|
ingenuity (Focuses on cleverness in design or problem-solving.)
|
skill (Broader and more general.)
Antonymes
clumsiness (Lack of skill and control in making or doing.)
|
ineptitude (General inability or poor competence.)
Collocations
remarkable artifice
|great artifice
|traditional artifice
|mechanical artifice
|the artifice of the builder
|the artifice of the maker
|human artifice
|craft and artifice
Thèmes
arts
|design
|work
|history
Exemples
- The clock’s tiny gears reveal extraordinary artifice for its time.
- The bridge is admired for the artifice of its construction.
- Her embroidery shows patient artifice and precision.
Grammaire
Forme canonique
artifice
API
GB/ˈɑɹtəfɪs/
US/ˈɑɹtəfɪs/
Syllabes et accentuation
ar - ti - fice (3 syllabes)
Stress on 1st syllable (ar)
Formes du mot
Noun
- Base: artifice
- Plural: artifice, artifices
Famille de mots
Forms
artifices
noun
Core family
artificial
adjective A2
artificially
adverb B2
Negative and opposite forms
artless
adjective
Advanced or less common
artificiality
noun
Expressions
with artifice
1/wˈɪθ ˈɑɹtəfɪs/
fixed phrase
formal
in a contrived or deceptive way
using tricks or an unnatural style
Exemples
- The product is presented with artifice, promising results it can’t deliver.
- He told the story with artifice, leaving out the parts that made him look bad.
- The scene is staged with artifice to heighten the tension.
without artifice
1/wɪðˈaʊt ˈɑɹtəfɪs/
fixed phrase
formal
in a natural, sincere way
honestly and naturally, not pretending
Exemples
- She answered the question without artifice.
- The memoir is written without artifice, and that honesty is its strength.
- He greeted us without artifice, as if we were old friends.