artificiality

[ ahr-tuh-fish-ee-al-i-tee ]

noun

, plural ar·ti·fi·ci·al·i·ties.

1. artificial quality.
2. an artificial thing or trait:

   artificialities of speech.

Other Words From

• over·arti·fici·ali·ty noun plural overartificialities
• super·arti·fici·ali·ty noun plural superartificialities

Word History and Origins

Origin of artificiality¹

First recorded in 1755–65; artificial + -ity

Example Sentences

The artificiality of the TV show, when paired with the growing intimacy between the cast members, was often jarringly surreal.

From The Daily Beast

Liberals still searched for the authenticity and energy denied them by the artificiality of capitalism and democracy.

From The Daily Beast

The overwhelming impression through the pages of that book is one of studied artificiality.

From The Daily Beast

This last phrase is characteristic and betrays the individual taste of the poet for artificiality.

From Project Gutenberg

The sentences will all be finished to a degree, and unquestionably will give a feeling of artificiality.

From Project Gutenberg

His own designs struck even his own imagination in a strange light; there was a smack of artificiality, of unreality about them.

From Project Gutenberg

The touch of artificiality was cold on this amazingly straightforward old man.

From Project Gutenberg

But her face was anxious, her bright eyes were uneasy, and there was a perceptible stamp of artificiality upon her.

From Project Gutenberg