FACTITIOUS

factitious

(adjective) not produced by natural forces; “brokers created a factitious demand for stocks”

Source: WordNet® 3.1

Etymology

Adjective

factitious (comparative more factitious, superlative most factitious)

Created by humans; artificial.

Counterfeit, fabricated, fake.

Source: Wiktionary

Fac*ti"tious, a. Etym: [L. factitius, fr. facere to make. See Fact, and cf. Fetich.]

Definition: Made by art, in distinction from what is produced by nature; artificial; sham; formed by, or adapted to, an artificial or conventional, in distinction from a natural, standard or rule; not natural; as, factitious cinnabar or jewels; a factitious taste.

– Fac-ti"tious*ly, adv.

– Fac*ti"tious-ness, n. He acquires a factitious propensity, he forms an incorrigible habit, of desultory reading. De Quincey.

Syn.

– Unnatural.

– Factitious, Unnatural. Anything is unnatural when it departs in any way from its simple or normal state; it is factitious when it is wrought out or wrought up by labor and effort, as, a factitious excitement. An unnatural demand for any article of merchandise is one which exceeds the ordinary rate of consumption; a factitious demand is one created by active exertions for the purpose. An unnatural alarm is one greater than the occasion requires; a factitious alarm is one wrought up with care and effort.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition