sztuczny

Sztuczny is a Polish adjective meaning artificial, not occurring naturally but produced by human craft, technology, or chemical processes. It describes things designed to imitate, replace, or supplement natural counterparts, as well as behaviors, appearances, or phenomena created deliberately rather than arising spontaneously.

Common uses include sztuczne światło (artificial light), sztuczne barwniki (artificial colorings), sztuczne aromaty or sztuczne dodatki smakowe (artificial flavorings), and sztuczne futro (faux fur). In science and technology, the term appears in phrases such as sztuczna inteligencja (artificial intelligence) and in medicine or engineering with references to sztuczny organ (artificial organ), sztuczny staw (artificial joint), or sztuczna zastawka serca (artificial heart valve). The word can also describe feigned or pretended qualities, for example in the expression sztuczny uśmiech (feigned smile).

Grammatical notes: sztuczny has feminine sztuczna and neuter sztuczne, with declensions matching the gender and number of the noun it modifies (and the plural form can be sztuczni for masculine personal nouns). The adjective is commonly contrasted with naturalny (natural); in many contexts it denotes manufactured or synthetic alternatives.

Etymology: the word is formed with the root sztuc- and the suffix -zny, reflecting a sense of something made by art, craft, or technique rather than arising from nature. It is widely used across everyday language, science, industry, and culture to distinguish human-made from natural phenomena.