natural

/ˈnætʃrəl/
adjective★Beginner— existing in or caused by nature
general

existing in or caused by nature, not artificial or man-made

She prefers natural ingredients in her cooking.

She likes using ingredients that come from nature, not processed ones.

💡

Often contrasted with 'artificial' or 'synthetic'.

general

normal or expected under the circumstances

It's natural to feel nervous before a big presentation.

Feeling nervous in this situation is normal and expected.

💡

Used to describe typical or instinctive behavior.

Collocations

natural selectionthe process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspringnatural resourcesmaterials or components that are mined (e.g., mineral deposits) or produced by farming and remain unprocessednatural disastera catastrophic event caused by natural processes of the Earth

Related Phrases

natural bornphrase
having a talent or ability from birth
natural lawphrase
a moral principle considered to be universal and inherent in human nature

💡Pro Tip

Common Usage

Use 'natural' to describe things that come from nature or are typical and expected.

⚡Gold Rule

Avoid Redundancy

Avoid phrases like 'natural habitat' or 'natural resources' as they are redundant.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English *naturale*, from Old French *naturel*, from Latin *nātūrālis*, from *nātūra* (nature).

📝Usage Notes

Can describe things that are either from nature or that are typical and expected.

Word Breakdown

nat-
birth
root
+
-ural
pertaining to
suffix
English Dictionary