factitious

[ fak-tish-uhs ]

adjective

1. not spontaneous or natural; artificial; contrived:

   factitious laughter; factitious enthusiasm.

2. made; manufactured:

   a decoration of factitious flowers and leaves.

factitious

/ fækˈtɪʃəs /

adjective

1. artificial rather than natural

   factitious demands created by the mass media

2. not genuine; sham

   factitious enthusiasm

Derived Forms

• facˈtitiously, adverb
• facˈtitiousness, noun

Other Words From

• fac·titious·ly adverb
• fac·titious·ness noun
• nonfac·titious adjective
• nonfac·titious·ly adverb
• nonfac·titious·ness noun
• over·fac·titious adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of factitious¹

First recorded in 1640–50, factitious is from the Latin word factīcius “made by art, artificial.” See fact, -itious

Word History and Origins

Origin of factitious¹

C17: from Latin factīcius , from facere to make, do

Example Sentences

The debate Wednesday that preceded the House passage of FIT21 was typically tone-deaf and filled with fictitious and factitious assertions.

From Los Angeles Times

That didn’t happen here because Drozd, an Obama appointee, can recognize a factitious claim for standing when it swims into his ken.

From Los Angeles Times

This is a useful inquiry, because we in the modern world are inundated by manipulated or factitious statistics, fabricated by marketers and politicians, promoted on social media and swallowed whole by news organizations.

From Los Angeles Times

The attacks take many forms, all of them chiefly employed by Republicans and their right-wing acolytes and all of them equally factitious.

From Los Angeles Times

Prof Marc Feldman is one of the world's most renowned experts on factitious disorders like Munchausen syndrome.

From BBC