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 instincts
2 : a theory denying that an event or object has a supernatural significance; specifically : the doctrine that scientific laws are adequate to account for all phenomena
3 : 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