Kunstlikud

Kunstlikud is an Estonian term functioning as the plural form of the adjective kunstlik, meaning artificial or man-made. It is used to describe plural nouns, for example kunstlikud materjalid (artificial materials) or kunstlikud valikud (artificial choices). The word contrasts with loomulikud or naturaalsed, which mean natural, and it appears across scientific, culinary, and everyday contexts to indicate a synthetic or human-made origin. In technical writing, phrases such as kunstlikud struktuurid or kunstlikud elusorganismid may refer to artificial constructs or organisms created in laboratory settings. In media and philosophy, kunstlikud can appear in discussions about artificial environments, synthetic biology, or consumer products marketed as synthetic.

Etymology: Kunstlik derives from kunst, art, combined with the adjectival suffix -lik, forming a word that denotes characteristic of or composed of. The plural kunstlikud agrees with the plural noun it modifies. The expression tehislik is a closer synonym in some contexts, but kunstlik is more common in standard Estonian.

Usage notes: Kunstlikud is not typically used as a standalone noun; it functions as an attributive adjective or as a predicate after a linking verb when referring to a plural subject. When used as a title or proper name, it may be capitalized as Kunstlikud, depending on context.