prosthetic

[ pros-thet-ik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to an artificial body part or prosthesis:

   He was fitted for a prosthetic arm.

2. of or relating to the fields of surgical or dental prosthetics:

   advances in prosthetic technology.

3. of or relating to a substance, item, or process used to transform a person’s appearance temporarily, especially as a theatrical special effect:

   The final scene required painstaking application of prosthetic hair and skin.

noun

1. an artificial body part; a prosthesis:

   Hundreds of amputees volunteered to test the new prosthetics.

2. an appearance-altering substance or item applied temporarily to a person’s face or body, especially to create a theatrical special effect:

   Alien creatures are brought to life with realistic prosthetics.

Other Words From

• pros·thet·i·cal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of prosthetic¹

1735–40; < Modern Latin prostheticus, from Hellenistic Greek prosthetikós, equivalent to prósthet(os) “added on,” verbid of prostithе́nai “to add, put onto” ( pros- pros- ( def ). + the-, stem of tithе́nai “to put, place” + -tos verbid suffix) + -ikos -ic ( def )

Example Sentences

Hamish will need to get prosthetic limbs once the amputations have been completed.

From BBC

A master of disguise, the Jackal first appears in elaborate — yet, to the viewer, obvious — prosthetics to make him look like a specific janitor in a building he’s planning to breach.

From Los Angeles Times

A group of 15 patients treated for head and neck cancer took part in research asking them to compare the comfort of prosthetics made using different methods.

From BBC

Rizeq is one of the first of thousands of wounded Palestinians who should receive new prosthetic limbs from Jordanian doctors using state-of-the-art British technology.

From BBC

As for Berhane, a humanitarian organisation has been able to provide him with a prosthetic leg and crutch, which has helped him walk again.

From BBC