artificial life: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to MediumAcademic, Scientific, Technical
Quick answer
What does “artificial life” mean?
A field of study and technology focused on creating digital or robotic systems that exhibit lifelike behaviors and properties, though not made of organic material.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A field of study and technology focused on creating digital or robotic systems that exhibit lifelike behaviors and properties, though not made of organic material.
Any simulated or synthetic system designed to mimic the processes, evolution, and adaptive behaviors found in biological life. Can also refer to the resulting entities themselves.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage.
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both variants.
Frequency
Used with equal frequency in relevant academic/tech circles in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “artificial life” in a Sentence
N of N (the study of artificial life)Adj + N (complex artificial life)V + N (to simulate artificial life)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “artificial life” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- Researchers aim to artificial-life a complete ecosystem in silico.
American English
- The team worked to artificial-life a population of self-replicating code.
adverb
British English
- [Not standard; no common adverbial use]
American English
- [Not standard; no common adverbial use]
adjective
British English
- The artificial-life simulation produced unexpected evolutionary paths.
American English
- They presented an artificial-life model at the conference.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in tech startups focused on simulation or gaming.
Academic
Common in computer science, robotics, biology, and philosophy of science departments.
Everyday
Very rare, typically only in discussions about future tech or sci-fi.
Technical
The primary context, referring to a specific research discipline and its outputs.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “artificial life”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “artificial life”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “artificial life”
- Using 'artificial life' to mean 'a fake lifestyle'.
- Confusing it with 'artificial intelligence' (AI is broader; ALife is specifically about life-like processes).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, they are related but distinct. AI focuses on intelligent behavior (like learning, problem-solving). Artificial life focuses on life-like processes (like reproduction, evolution, adaptation).
Not in the sense of creating new biological organisms from scratch. The term primarily refers to digital or robotic simulations that exhibit lifelike properties.
Computer simulations like 'Conway's Game of Life', where simple rules lead to complex, evolving patterns of cells, are classic early examples.
Most experts consider current artificial life research, which is largely digital, to be safe. Ethical discussions focus on future possibilities and responsible research.
Artificial life is usually academic, scientific, technical in register.
Artificial life: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɑːtɪˈfɪʃ(ə)l laɪf/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɑːrtɪˈfɪʃ(ə)l laɪf/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated; the term is too technical]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a computer game where the characters evolve on their own — that's a simple form of ARTIFICIAL (man-made) LIFE.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIFE IS SOFTWARE / EVOLUTION IS AN ALGORITHM.
Practice
Quiz
Which field is most closely related to 'artificial life'?