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Artificial vs. Natural — What's the Difference?

By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on April 20, 2024
Artificial items are man-made and often involve synthetic processes, while natural items come from the environment, typically unaltered by human intervention.
Artificial vs. Natural — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Artificial and Natural

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Key Differences

Artificial objects or substances are created or manufactured through human ingenuity and technology, often to mimic natural counterparts. Whereas natural objects or substances occur in nature and are not fabricated by humans, reflecting inherent properties of the environment.
In the context of food, artificial flavors are chemically produced to replicate natural flavors. On the other hand, natural flavors are derived directly from plant or animal sources without chemical alteration.
Artificial intelligence simulates human intelligence in machines programmed to think and learn. Conversely, natural intelligence is the cognitive capability inherent in biological entities, evolving through natural selection.
Environmental impacts often highlight the contrast where artificial landscapes or materials can contribute to pollution and resource depletion. In contrast, natural landscapes support biodiversity and ecological balance if left undisturbed.
Consumer preferences sometimes lean towards natural products due to perceptions of safety and health benefits, while artificial products are often favored for cost-effectiveness, consistency, and longer shelf life.
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Comparison Chart

Source

Created by human processes
Derived directly from nature

Example in Food

Artificial sweeteners like aspartame
Natural sugar from sugarcane

Intelligence Type

AI systems like chatbots
Human or animal cognitive abilities

Environmental Impact

Can be more polluting, e.g., plastics
Generally more sustainable, e.g., wood

Consumer Perception

Often viewed as less healthy or eco-friendly
Preferred for perceived purity and health

Compare with Definitions

Artificial

Made in imitation of something natural.
Artificial leather is more durable than real leather.

Natural

In accordance with nature; realistic.
The artist’s style is known for its natural realism.

Artificial

Made by human skill or effort rather than occurring naturally.
Artificial diamonds are popular due to their affordability.

Natural

Existing in or derived from nature; not made by humans.
Natural landscapes are vital for biodiversity.

Artificial

Relating to or involving technology or machinery.
Artificial intelligence is reshaping industries.

Natural

Based on the inherent qualities of a person or thing.
She has a natural talent for music.

Artificial

Not arising from natural growth or origin.
The park featured an artificial lake.

Natural

Not altered, treated, or disguised.
Natural foods are free from additives.

Artificial

Manufactured to replace a natural equivalent.
Many athletes use artificial turf for training.

Natural

Relating to natural products that are not chemically altered.
Natural skincare products are gentle on the skin.

Artificial

Made or produced by human beings rather than occurring naturally, especially as a copy of something natural
An artificial limb
Artificial flowers
Her skin glowed in the artificial light

Natural

Present in or produced by nature
A natural pearl.

Artificial

(of a person or their behaviour) insincere or affected
She gave an artificial smile

Natural

Of, relating to, or concerning nature
A natural environment.

Artificial

(of a bid) conventional as opposed to natural
The Italian team began with an artificial club

Natural

Conforming to the usual or ordinary course of nature
A natural death.

Artificial

Made by humans, especially in imitation of something natural
An artificial sweetener that replaces sugar.
Artificial flowers.

Natural

Not acquired; inherent
Love of power is natural to some people.

Artificial

Not arising from natural or necessary causes; contrived or arbitrary
"Hausa [in Niger] ... are separated from their brethren in Nigeria by a porous and artificial border that the colonial powers left behind" (Jeffrey Tayler).

Natural

Having a particular character by nature
A natural leader.

Artificial

Affected or insincere
An artificial smile.

Natural

(Biology) Not produced or changed artificially; not conditioned
Natural immunity.
A natural reflex.

Artificial

Man-made; made by humans; of artifice.
The flowers were artificial, and he thought them rather tacky.

Natural

Characterized by spontaneity and freedom from artificiality, affectation, or inhibitions.

Artificial

; fake, forced, or feigned.
Her manner was somewhat artificial.

Natural

Not altered, treated, or disguised
Natural coloring.
Natural produce.

Artificial

Not natural or normal: imposed arbitrarily or without regard to the specifics or normal circumstances of a person, a situation, etc.

Natural

Faithfully representing nature or life.

Artificial

(bridge) Conveying some meaning other than the actual contents of one's hand.

Natural

Expected and accepted
“In Willie's mind marriage remained the natural and logical sequence to love” (Duff Cooper).

Artificial

Made or contrived by art; produced or modified by human skill and labor, in opposition to natural; as, artificial heat or light, gems, salts, minerals, fountains, flowers.
Artificial strifeLives in these touches, livelier than life.

Natural

Established by moral certainty or conviction
Natural rights.

Artificial

Feigned; fictitious; assumed; affected; not genuine.

Natural

Being in a state regarded as primitive, uncivilized, or unregenerate.

Artificial

Artful; cunning; crafty.

Natural

Related genetically
The natural parents of the child.

Artificial

Cultivated; not indigenous; not of spontaneous growth; as, artificial grasses.

Natural

Born to parents who have never been married to each other
The natural son of the king.

Artificial

Contrived by art rather than nature;
Artificial flowers
Artificial flavoring
An artificial diamond
Artificial fibers
Artificial sweeteners

Natural

(Mathematics) Of or relating to positive integers, sometimes including zero.

Artificial

Artificially formal;
That artificial humility that her husband hated
Contrived coyness
A stilted letter of acknowledgment
When people try to correct their speech they develop a stilted pronunciation

Natural

Not sharped or flatted.

Artificial

Not arising from natural growth or characterized by vital processes

Natural

Having no sharps or flats.

Natural

Relating to hair that is allowed to remain in an unaltered state
“Many tweets also attacked double standards that exist regarding black women's hair. Wearing extensions and weaves can be seen as traitorous or insecure, while wearing hair in a natural or traditionally African-inspired style ... can result in mocking criticism” (Mary Emily O'Hara).

Natural

One having all the qualifications necessary for success
You are a natural for this job.

Natural

One suited by nature for a certain purpose or function
She is a natural at mathematics.

Natural

The sign (♮) placed before a note to cancel a preceding sharp or flat.

Natural

A note so affected.

Natural

A yellowish gray to pale orange yellow.

Natural

(Games) A combination in certain card and dice games that wins immediately.

Natural

Existing in nature.

Natural

Existing in the nature of a person or thing; innate, not acquired or learned.

Natural

Normally associated with a particular person or thing; inherently related to the nature of a thing or creature.
The species will be under threat if its natural habitat is destroyed.

Natural

As expected; reasonable, normal; naturally arising from the given circumstances.
It's natural for business to be slow on Tuesdays.
His prison sentence was the natural consequence of a life of crime.

Natural

Formed by nature; not manufactured or created by artificial processes.

Natural

Pertaining to death brought about by disease or old age, rather than by violence, accident etc.
She died of natural causes.

Natural

Having an innate ability to fill a given role or profession, or display a specified character.

Natural

(maths) Designating a standard trigonometric function of an angle, as opposed to the logarithmic function.

Natural

(music) Neither sharp nor flat. Denoted ♮.
There's a wrong note here: it should be C natural instead of C sharp.

Natural

Containing no artificial or man-made additives; especially (of food) containing no colourings, flavourings or preservatives.
Natural food is healthier than processed food.

Natural

Pertaining to a decoration that preserves or enhances the appearance of the original material; not stained or artificially coloured.

Natural

Pertaining to a fabric still in its undyed state, or to the colour of undyed fabric.

Natural

(dice) Pertaining to a dice roll before bonuses or penalties have been applied to the result.

Natural

(bodybuilding) Not having used anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.

Natural

(bridge) Bidding in an intuitive way that reflects one's actual hand.

Natural

(algebra) Closed under submodules, direct sums, and injective hulls.

Natural

Pertaining to birth or descent; native.

Natural

Having a given status (especially of authority) by virtue of birth.

Natural

Related genetically but not legally to one's father; born out of wedlock, illegitimate.

Natural

Related by birth; genetically related.

Natural

A native inhabitant of a place, country etc.

Natural

(music) A note that is not or is no longer to be modified by an accidental.

Natural

(music) The symbol ♮ used to indicate such a natural note.

Natural

One with an innate talent at or for something.
He's a natural on the saxophone.

Natural

An almost white colour, with tints of grey, yellow or brown; originally that of natural fabric.

Natural

(archaic) One with a simple mind; a fool or idiot.

Natural

One's life.

Natural

A hairstyle for people with Afro-textured hair in which the hair is not straightened or otherwise treated.

Natural

Someone who has not used anabolic steroids or other performance-enhancing drugs.

Natural

(craps) A roll of two dice with a score of 7 or 11 on the comeout roll.

Natural

Naturally; in a natural manner.

Natural

Fixed or determined by nature; pertaining to the constitution of a thing; belonging to native character; according to nature; essential; characteristic; innate; not artificial, foreign, assumed, put on, or acquired; as, the natural growth of animals or plants; the natural motion of a gravitating body; natural strength or disposition; the natural heat of the body; natural color.
With strong natural sense, and rare force of will.

Natural

Conformed to the order, laws, or actual facts, of nature; consonant to the methods of nature; according to the stated course of things, or in accordance with the laws which govern events, feelings, etc.; not exceptional or violent; legitimate; normal; regular; as, the natural consequence of crime; a natural death; anger is a natural response to insult.
What can be more natural than the circumstances in the behavior of those women who had lost their husbands on this fatal day?

Natural

Having to do with existing system to things; dealing with, or derived from, the creation, or the world of matter and mind, as known by man; within the scope of human reason or experience; not supernatural; as, a natural law; natural science; history, theology.
I call that natural religion which men might know . . . by the mere principles of reason, improved by consideration and experience, without the help of revelation.

Natural

Conformed to truth or reality

Natural

Having the character or sentiments properly belonging to one's position; not unnatural in feelings.
To leave his wife, to leave his babes, . . . He wants the natural touch.

Natural

Connected by the ties of consanguinity.

Natural

Begotten without the sanction of law; born out of wedlock; illegitimate; bastard; as, a natural child.

Natural

Of or pertaining to the lower or animal nature, as contrasted with the higher or moral powers, or that which is spiritual; being in a state of nature; unregenerate.
The natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God.

Natural

Belonging to, to be taken in, or referred to, some system, in which the base is 1; - said of certain functions or numbers; as, natural numbers, those commencing at 1; natural sines, cosines, etc., those taken in arcs whose radii are 1.

Natural

Produced by natural organs, as those of the human throat, in distinction from instrumental music.

Natural

Existing in nature or created by the forces of nature, in contrast to production by man; not made, manufactured, or processed by humans; as, a natural ruby; a natural bridge; natural fibers; a deposit of natural calcium sulfate. Opposed to artificial, man-made, manufactured, processed and synthetic.

Natural

Not processed or refined; in the same statre as that existing in nature; as, natural wood; natural foods.

Natural

A native; an aboriginal.

Natural

Natural gifts, impulses, etc.

Natural

One born without the usual powers of reason or understanding; an idiot.

Natural

A character [

Natural

A person who has an innate talent that makes success in some specific endeavor, such as sports, much easier than for others; as, Pele was a natural in soccer.

Natural

Someone regarded as certain to succeed;
He's a natural for the job

Natural

A notation cancelling a previous sharp or flat

Natural

(craps) a first roll of 7 or 11 that immediately wins the stake

Natural

In accordance with nature; relating to or concerning nature;
A very natural development
Our natural environment
Natural science
Natural resources
Natural cliffs
Natural phenomena

Natural

Existing in or produced by nature; not artificial or imitation;
A natural pearl
Natural gas
Natural silk
Natural blonde hair
A natural sweetener
Natural fertilizers

Natural

Existing in or in conformity with nature or the observable world; neither supernatural nor magical;
A perfectly natural explanation

Natural

Functioning or occurring in a normal way; lacking abnormalities or deficiencies;
It's the natural thing to happen
Natural immunity
A grandparent's natural affection for a grandchild

Natural

Of a key containing no sharps or flats;
B natural
C sharp

Natural

Unthinking; prompted by (or as if by) instinct;
A cat's natural aversion to water
Offering to help was as instinctive as breathing

Natural

(used especially of commodities) in the natural unprocessed condition;
Natural yogurt
Natural produce
Raw wool
Raw sugar
Bales of rude cotton

Natural

Related by blood; not adopted;
Natural parent

Natural

Being talented through inherited qualities;
A natural leader
A born musician
An innate talent

Natural

Unaffected and natural looking;
A lifelike pose
A natural reaction

Common Curiosities

Are there regulatory differences in labeling something as artificial vs. natural?

Yes, regulations vary by country, but generally, products labeled as "natural" must not contain artificial ingredients, colors, or preservatives.

What are some benefits of using artificial products?

Artificial products can be more durable, less expensive, and more readily available than their natural counterparts.

How do artificial flavors compare to natural flavors?

Artificial flavors are chemically created to mimic natural flavors but may lack the complexity and depth of flavors that natural extracts provide.

Is there a cost difference between artificial and natural products?

Generally, artificial products are less expensive to produce than natural products, which often require more careful sourcing and processing.

What are common examples of artificial materials?

Common artificial materials include plastics, synthetic fibers like nylon, and composite materials such as carbon fiber.

What is the significance of the term "natural" on product labels?

On product labels, "natural" typically indicates that the product is made from ingredients sourced from nature and minimally processed.

Can artificial lighting be as effective as natural lighting?

Artificial lighting can mimic natural light to some extent but often lacks the full spectrum of sunlight, which can affect mood and health.

What are the environmental impacts of producing natural products?

Natural product production can lead to habitat destruction, overuse of resources, and pollution if not managed sustainably.

What role do artificial additives play in food and beverages?

Artificial additives enhance flavor, color, texture, and shelf life in food and beverages, though they are sometimes criticized for potential health risks.

How does natural medicine compare to synthetic medicine?

Natural medicine uses plant and animal-derived substances, often with holistic intentions, while synthetic medicine utilizes chemically produced substances that can be more potent and targeted.

How do consumers perceive the durability of artificial vs. natural products?

Consumers often perceive artificial products as more durable due to their synthetic nature, which can resist natural decay processes better than natural products.

Can artificial environments benefit wildlife?

Yes, artificial environments like man-made wetlands can provide habitat and aid in conservation efforts, though they may not fully replicate the biodiversity of natural settings.

Why might an artist use artificial materials instead of natural ones?

Artists might use artificial materials for their versatility, range of colors, durability, or cost-effectiveness.

What are the ethical considerations in using artificial vs. natural products?

Ethical considerations include the sustainability of production methods, the environmental impact, and the health implications of both artificial and natural products.

What advancements have been made in creating artificial organs?

Significant advancements include the creation of artificial hearts, kidneys, and skin that mimic the functions of natural organs, often using synthetic or bioengineered materials.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Fiza Rafique
Fiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat

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