artificial person: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1+Formal, Legal, Academic, Business
Quick answer
What does “artificial person” mean?
A legal entity created by law and given rights and duties like a human being, such as a corporation or company.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A legal entity created by law and given rights and duties like a human being, such as a corporation or company.
Any non-human entity treated as having a distinct legal personality, including certain types of trusts, governmental bodies, and, in some contexts, advanced AI or digital entities.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Both jurisdictions use the term identically in legal contexts. Slight preference for 'body corporate' or 'corporation' in more general British business writing.
Connotations
Neutral legal term in both. No strong regional connotations.
Frequency
Rare in everyday speech. Used almost exclusively in legal, corporate governance, and academic (law, philosophy) texts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “artificial person” in a Sentence
[The/An] artificial person [verb e.g., may sue, can own property, is liable].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “artificial person” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The court can artificial-personify a charitable trust.
- The Act does not provide for artificial-personifying unincorporated associations.
American English
- The state statutes allow for artificial-personifying a limited liability company.
- They sought to artificial-personify the joint venture.
adverb
British English
- The association was treated artificial-personally by the tax authority.
- The assets are held artificial-personally distinct from the members.
American English
- The LLC exists artificial-personally under state law.
- The trust operates artificial-personally for liability purposes.
adjective
British English
- The artificial-person status of the club was debated.
- We examined the artificial-person theory of corporate rights.
American English
- The artificial-person doctrine is central to corporate law.
- Their argument relied on an artificial-person construct.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
In corporate filings and governance documents to clarify the company's legal standing.
Academic
In law and philosophy papers discussing the nature of legal rights and entityhood.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would be explained as 'a company, in the eyes of the law'.
Technical
Precise term in legal statutes, court opinions, and regulatory frameworks.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “artificial person”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “artificial person”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “artificial person”
- Using it to refer to AI or robots in non-legal contexts.
- Confusing it with 'artificial intelligence'.
- Treating it as a synonym for 'fake person' in a social sense.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. In legal terminology, it refers to entities like corporations, not physical robots. It's about legal status, not physical form.
No. While an artificial person can be fined or sanctioned, it cannot be imprisoned as a human can. Criminal liability typically falls on its human agents.
A natural person is a human being. An artificial person is a legal creation (like a company) granted similar legal capacities by statute.
To facilitate commerce and collective action by allowing groups to act as a single entity, with perpetual existence, limited liability, and the ability to own property and make contracts.
A legal entity created by law and given rights and duties like a human being, such as a corporation or company.
Artificial person is usually formal, legal, academic, business in register.
Artificial person: in British English it is pronounced /ˌɑː.tɪˈfɪʃ.əl ˈpɜː.sən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌɑːr.t̬əˈfɪʃ.əl ˈpɝː.sən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A corporation is a creature of the law, an artificial person.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a robot CEO: it's not a real human (artificial), but the law treats the company it runs as a 'person' with rights and responsibilities.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE LAW IS A CREATOR (of persons). / AN ORGANISATION IS A BODY.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary context for using the term 'artificial person'?