Organic vs. Synthetic: What's the Difference?
Edited by Aimie Carlson || By Janet White || Published on November 8, 2023
Organic pertains to naturally occurring or derived from living organisms, while synthetic refers to man-made or artificially produced materials.
Key Differences
Organic typically refers to substances derived from living organisms or the processes they undergo. This term often evokes ideas of naturalness and wholesomeness. On the contrary, synthetic pertains to materials or substances that humans have created or modified, often in laboratories or manufacturing settings.
In agriculture, organic farming practices avoid using synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers. Instead, they employ natural methods and materials to cultivate crops. Synthetic farming, on the other hand, may utilize man-made chemicals to promote growth and protect against pests.
When discussing materials, organic substances might include materials like cotton, wool, or wood, which originate from plants or animals. Synthetic materials, such as plastics or nylon, are often produced through chemical processes in industries and don't have natural origins.
In chemistry, organic typically describes compounds containing carbon, often in relation to living systems. However, synthetic in this context refers to the creation of compounds through deliberate and controlled chemical reactions, which might or might not be organic in nature.
From a consumer's perspective, organic products often suggest healthfulness, environmental friendliness, or ethical production. Meanwhile, synthetic products might be valued for their durability, consistency, or cost-effectiveness.
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Comparison Chart
Origin
Naturally occurring or from living organisms
Man-made or artificially produced
Farming
Avoids synthetic chemicals
May use man-made chemicals
Materials
Natural origins (e.g., cotton, wool)
Produced industrially (e.g., plastics)
Chemistry
Typically carbon-based compounds
Created through deliberate reactions
Consumer Perception
Natural, healthy, environmentally friendly
Durable, consistent, cost-effective
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Organic and Synthetic Definitions
Organic
Pertaining to or derived from living organisms.
The farmer used only organic methods, avoiding chemical pesticides.
Synthetic
Imitating a natural product.
She wore a synthetic fur coat during the winter months.
Organic
Produced without synthetic chemicals or genetically modified organisms.
Many people prefer organic foods for their perceived health benefits.
Synthetic
Artificially made or produced, not natural.
The jacket was made from synthetic leather.
Organic
Of, relating to, or derived from living organisms
Organic matter.
Synthetic
Created through chemical synthesis.
The medication was synthetic, designed specifically for the condition.
Organic
Of, relating to, or affecting a bodily organ
An organic disease.
Synthetic
Not genuine or authentic; artificial.
The actor's accent sounded synthetic and unconvincing.
Organic
Of, marked by, or involving the use of fertilizers or pesticides that are strictly of animal or vegetable origin
Organic vegetables.
An organic farm.
Synthetic
Relating to, involving, or of the nature of synthesis.
Organic
Raised or conducted without the use of drugs, hormones, or synthetic chemicals
Organic chicken.
Organic cattle farming.
Synthetic
(Chemistry) Produced by synthesis, especially not of natural origin.
Organic
Serving organic food
An organic restaurant.
Synthetic
Prepared or made artificially
Synthetic leather.
Organic
Simple, healthful, and close to nature
An organic lifestyle.
Synthetic
Not natural or genuine; artificial or contrived
“counterfeit rhetoric that flourishes when passions are synthetic” (George F. Will).
Organic
Having properties associated with living organisms.
Synthetic
(Linguistics) Relating to or being a language, such as Latin or Russian, that uses inflectional affixes to express syntactic relationships.
Organic
Resembling a living organism in organization or development; interconnected
Society as an organic whole.
Synthetic
Logic & Philosophy Relating to or being a proposition that attributes to a subject a predicate not inherent in the subject, not following necessarily from logically true statements.
Organic
Constituting an integral part of a whole; fundamental.
Synthetic
Of or relating to a financial instrument or investment that consists entirely of derivatives, especially swap contracts.
Organic
(Law) Denoting or relating to the fundamental or constitutional laws and precepts of a government or an organization.
Synthetic
A synthetic chemical compound or material.
Organic
(Chemistry) Of or designating carbon compounds.
Synthetic
Of, or relating to synthesis.
Organic
An organic food or a product made from organic materials.
Synthetic
(chemistry) Produced by synthesis instead of being isolated from a natural source (but may be identical to a product so obtained).
Organic
A substance, especially a fertilizer or pesticide, of animal or vegetable origin.
Synthetic
(medicine) Produced by synthesis, thought to have the same effect as its natural counterpart, but chemically different from it.
Organic
(Chemistry) An organic compound.
Synthetic
Artificial, not genuine.
Organic
(biology) Pertaining to or derived from living organisms.
Synthetic
(grammar) Pertaining to the joining of bound morphemes in a word (compare analytic).
Organic
Pertaining to an organ of the body of a living organism.
Synthetic
(linguistics) Of a language, having a grammar principally dependent on the use of bound morphemes to indicate syntactic relationships (compare analytic).
Organic
(chemistry) Relating to the compounds of carbon, relating to natural products.
Synthetic
A synthetic compound.
Organic
(agriculture) Of food or food products, grown in an environment free from artificial agrichemicals, and possibly certified by a regulatory body.
Synthetic
Of or pertaining to synthesis; consisting in synthesis or composition; as, the synthetic method of reasoning, as opposed to analytical.
Philosophers hasten too much from the analytic to the synthetic method; that is, they draw general conclusions from too small a number of particular observations and experiments.
Organic
(sociology) Describing a form of social solidarity theorized by Emile Durkheim that is characterized by voluntary engagements in complex interdependencies for mutual benefit (such as business agreements), rather than mechanical solidarity, which depends on ascribed relations between people (as in a family or tribe).
Synthetic
Artificial. Cf. Synthesis, 2.
Organic
(military) Of a military unit or formation, or its elements, belonging to a permanent organization (in contrast to being temporarily attached).
Synthetic
Comprising within itself structural or other characters which are usually found only in two or more diverse groups; - said of species, genera, and higher groups. See the Note under Comprehensive, 3.
Organic
Instrumental; acting as instruments of nature or of art to a certain destined function or end.
Synthetic
A compound made artificially by chemical reactions
Organic
Generated according to the ranking algorithms of a search engine, as opposed to paid placement by advertisers.
Synthetic
Not of natural origin; prepared or made artificially;
Man-made fibers
Synthetic leather
Organic
Developing in a gradual or natural fashion.
The writing of the script was an organic process.
Synthetic
Involving or of the nature of synthesis (combining separate elements to form a coherent whole) as opposed to analysis;
Limnology is essentially a synthetic science composed of elements...that extend well beyond the limits of biology
Organic
Harmonious; coherent; structured.
The production came together in an organic whole.
Synthetic
Systematic combining of root and modifying elements into single words
Organic
(chemistry) An organic compound.
Synthetic
Of a proposition whose truth value is determined by observation or facts;
`all men are arrogant' is a synthetic proposition
Organic
An organic food.
Synthetic
Artificial as if portrayed in a film;
A novel with flat celluloid characters
Organic
(science fiction) A living organism, as opposed to a robot or hologram.
Synthetic
Not genuine or natural;
Counterfeit rhetoric that flourishes when passions are synthetic
Organic
Of or pertaining to an organ or its functions, or to objects composed of organs; consisting of organs, or containing them; as, the organic structure of animals and plants; exhibiting characters peculiar to living organisms; as, organic bodies, organic life, organic remains. Cf. Inorganic.
Synthetic
Produced by combining different elements.
The fuel was a synthetic blend of various compounds.
Organic
Produced by the organs; as, organic pleasure.
Organic
Instrumental; acting as instruments of nature or of art to a certain destined function or end.
Those organic arts which enable men to discourse and write perspicuously.
Organic
Forming a whole composed of organs.
Organic
Of or pertaining to compounds which are derivatives of hydrocarbons; pertaining to, or denoting, any one of a large series of carbon-containing compounds which are related to the carbon compounds produced by biological processes (such as methane, oils, fats, sugars, alcohols, ethers, proteins, etc.) and include many substances of artificial production which may or may not occur in animals or plants; - contrasted with inorganic.
Organic
A fertilizer that is derived from animal or vegetable matter
Organic
Relating or belonging to the class of chemical compounds having a carbon basis;
Hydrocarbons are organic compounds
Organic
Of or relating to or derived from living organisms;
Organic soil
Organic
Being or relating to or derived from or having properties characteristic of living organisms;
Organic life
Organic growth
Organic remains found in rock
Organic
Involving or affecting physiology or bodily organs;
An organic disease
Organic
Of or relating to foodstuff grown or raised without synthetic fertilizers or pesticides or hormones;
Organic eggs
Organic vegetables
Organic chicken
Organic
Simple and healthful and close to nature;
An organic lifestyle
Organic
Constitutional in the structure of something (especially your physical makeup)
Organic
Relating to compounds containing carbon, typically in relation to living systems.
Petroleum is an organic compound derived from ancient plant material.
Organic
Natural, without artificial additives.
The juice was 100% organic with no added sugars.
Organic
Pertaining to the branch of chemistry dealing with carbon compounds.
She majored in organic chemistry during her college years.
FAQs
Is all organic chemistry related to living organisms?
No, while organic chemistry typically deals with carbon compounds, not all are related to living systems.
Are all plastics synthetic?
Most commonly used plastics are synthetic, but there are bioplastics derived from organic sources.
Is synthetic leather real leather?
No, synthetic leather is an artificial alternative to real leather.
What does organic farming avoid?
Organic farming avoids synthetic pesticides, herbicides, and fertilizers.
Are all organic products environmentally friendly?
Not always. Some organic practices can still have environmental impacts.
Are organic foods always pesticide-free?
No, organic foods might use natural pesticides, but avoid synthetic ones.
Can synthetic materials be as durable as natural ones?
Often, synthetic materials are designed to be more durable and resistant than organic counterparts.
Are synthetic drugs less effective than natural ones?
Effectiveness depends on the drug, not its origin. Some synthetic drugs can be more potent or stable than natural alternatives.
Why do some consumers prefer organic products?
Some prefer organic for perceived health, environmental, or ethical reasons.
Does organic always mean healthier?
Not necessarily. While organic avoids certain chemicals, it doesn't guarantee a product is healthier overall.
Why are some synthetic products cheaper?
Synthetic products can be mass-produced and might use less expensive raw materials.
Is organic farming the same worldwide?
While principles are similar, organic farming standards might vary by country.
Can organic foods contain synthetic additives?
For a product to be labeled organic, it usually must contain a minimum amount or no synthetic additives.
Can synthetic materials be environmentally friendly?
Some synthetic materials are designed to be biodegradable or recyclable, enhancing their environmental profile.
Are synthetic gems the same as natural gems?
Synthetic gems have the same physical properties as natural ones but are created artificially.
Are there synthetic alternatives to most organic materials?
Many organic materials have synthetic alternatives, though not all can fully replicate organic properties.
Can synthetic products imitate organic ones?
Yes, many synthetic products, like fragrances or fabrics, can closely imitate their organic counterparts.
How are synthetic chemicals created?
Synthetic chemicals are created through controlled chemical reactions in labs or industries.
Is organic certification standardized?
Organic certification is based on set standards, but these can differ between certifying bodies.
Can organic materials be processed or refined?
Yes, organic materials like cotton or oil can undergo processing or refining.
About Author
Written by
Janet WhiteJanet White has been an esteemed writer and blogger for Difference Wiki. Holding a Master's degree in Science and Medical Journalism from the prestigious Boston University, she has consistently demonstrated her expertise and passion for her field. When she's not immersed in her work, Janet relishes her time exercising, delving into a good book, and cherishing moments with friends and family.
Edited by
Aimie CarlsonAimie Carlson, holding a master's degree in English literature, is a fervent English language enthusiast. She lends her writing talents to Difference Wiki, a prominent website that specializes in comparisons, offering readers insightful analyses that both captivate and inform.
