natural

/ˈnætʃrəl/
adjectiveBeginner
formal

Existing or occurring in nature; not artificial or man-made.

The park is filled with natural beauty.

The park is filled with natural beauty.

She prefers natural ingredients in her skincare products.

She prefers natural ingredients in her skincare products.

💡

Often used to describe things that are not synthetic or processed.

informal

Normal or expected under the circumstances; not forced or artificial.

His reaction was natural given the situation.

His reaction was natural given the situation.

She has a natural talent for singing.

She has a natural talent for singing.

💡

Can refer to innate abilities or behaviors that come easily.

Collocations

natural resourcesresources found in nature, such as minerals, forests, and water.natural selectionthe process by which organisms better adapted to their environment tend to survive and produce more offspring.natural disastera catastrophic event caused by natural processes, such as hurricanes, earthquakes, or floods.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

mother naturephrase
a personification of nature as a nurturing force.
natural bornphrase
someone who has a talent or ability from birth.

💡Pro Tip

Natural vs. Unnatural

Use 'natural' to describe things that are not altered by humans, and 'unnatural' for things that seem forced or artificial.

Gold Rule

Context Matters

In scientific contexts, 'natural' refers to phenomena not caused by humans, while in everyday language, it can describe innate qualities.

📖Word Origin

From Middle English 'naturale,' from Old French 'naturel,' from Latin 'naturalis,' meaning 'by birth, inborn, native, natural.'

📝Usage Notes

Can be used to describe both physical and abstract qualities. In science, it often refers to phenomena that occur without human intervention.

Word Breakdown

nat-
birth, origin
root
+
-ural
relating to
suffix
English Dictionary