Main Entry:

nat·u·ral·ism

Pronunciation:

\ˈna-chə-rə-ˌli-zəm, ˈnach-rə-\

Function:

noun

Date:

circa 1641

1: action, inclination, or thought based only on natural desires and instincts2: a theory denying that an event or object has a supernatural significance ; specifically : the doctrine that scientific laws are adequate to account for all phenomena3: realism in art or literature ; specifically : a theory or practice in literature emphasizing scientific observation of life without idealization and often including elements of determinism