noun / adjective
prosthetic
prahs-THET-ik/prɑːsˈθetɪk/
An artificial replacement for a missing body part, or relating to such a replacement.
The athlete's prosthetic leg remains visible while the athlete laces a shoe.
Etymology
The pieces convey “putting to,” behind the Greek description “added or fitted to.” The medical meaning concerns an artificial part added to the body to replace something missing.
In context
Barrett had his prosthetic arm removed and replaced with a powerful weapon arm
More examples
- His new prosthetic fits more comfortably than the old one.
- The clinic adjusts prosthetic legs for growing children.
- These prosthetics replace fingers lost in an accident.
Forms
prosthetic · prosthetics
prosthesis noun — An artificial substitute for a body part.
prosthetist noun — A specialist who fits artificial body parts.
Similar words
- prosthesis
- A more technical noun for an artificial body replacement.
- artificial
- Describes anything human-made, not specifically a replacement body part.