Definition

Made from a combination of natural and man-made materials or substances.

Example

The doctor prescribed a semisynthetic antibiotic to treat the infection.

Conversation

I was reading about some new medicines, and I came across the term semisynthetic antibiotics.

Oh, I've heard about those! They're made from natural ingredients but altered chemically, right?

Exactly! It's interesting how they combine natural and synthetic elements to improve effectiveness.

Yeah, it really shows how advanced our medicine has become.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Semisynthetic → It is formed from "semi-" (meaning half) and "synthetic" (from Greek "synthesis", meaning to put together). The word "semisynthetic" refers to something that is partially made by combining natural and synthetic components.

Memory Tip

Think of 'half' ('semi-') combined with 'putting together' ('synthesis') to remember that 'semisynthetic' means something that is partially made from both natural and synthetic materials.

Visually Confused Words