natural

adjective

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nat·u·ral | \ ˈna-chə-rəl

, ˈnach-rəl \

Definition of natural

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : based on an inherent sense of right and wrong natural justice

2a : being in accordance with or determined by nature natural impulses

b : having or constituting a classification based on features existing in nature

3a(1) : begotten as distinguished from adopted their natural son also : legitimate

(2) : being a relation by actual consanguinity as distinguished from adoption natural parents

b : born to parents not married to each other a natural child

4 : having an essential relation with someone or something : following from the nature of the one in question his guilt is a natural deduction from the evidence

5 : implanted or being as if implanted by nature : seemingly inborn a natural talent for art

6 : of or relating to nature as an object of study and research natural observations

7 : having a specified character by nature a natural athlete a natural leader

8a : occurring in conformity with the ordinary course of nature : not marvelous or supernatural natural causes died a natural death

b : formulated by human reason alone rather than revelation natural religion natural rights

c : having a normal or usual character events followed their natural course

9 : possessing or exhibiting the higher qualities (such as kindliness and affection) of human nature a noble … brother … ever most kind and natural— William Shakespeare

10a : growing without human care also : not cultivated natural prairie unbroken by the plow

b : existing in or produced by nature : not artificial natural turf natural curiosities

c : relating to or being natural food

11a : being in a state of nature without spiritual enlightenment : unregenerate natural man

b : living in or as if in a state of nature untouched by the influences of civilization and society

12a : having a physical or real existence as contrasted with one that is spiritual, intellectual, or fictitious a corporation is a legal but not a natural person

b : of, relating to, or operating in the physical as opposed to the spiritual world natural laws describe phenomena of the physical universe

13a : closely resembling an original : true to nature

b : marked by easy simplicity and freedom from artificiality, affectation, or constraint Successful people are genuine and natural rather than synthetic and imitative.— Gilbert Seldes

c : having a form or appearance found in nature natural hair

14a : having neither flats nor sharps the natural scale of C major

b : being neither sharp nor flat natural musical notes

c : having the pitch modified by the natural sign

15 : of an off-white or beige color

natural

noun

Definition of natural (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : one born without the usual powers of reason and understanding

2a : a sign ♮ placed on any degree of the musical staff to nullify the effect of a preceding sharp or flat

b : a note or tone affected by the natural sign

3 : a result or combination that immediately wins the stake in a game: such as

a : a throw of 7 or 11 on the first cast in craps

b : blackjack sense 1b

4a : one having natural skills, talents, or abilities

b : something that is likely to become an immediate success

c : one that is obviously suitable for a specific purpose

5 : afro

Other Words from natural Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing natural Learn More About natural

Choose the Right Synonym for natural

Adjective

natural, ingenuous, naive, unsophisticated, artless mean free from pretension or calculation. natural implies lacking artificiality and self-consciousness and having a spontaneousness suggesting the natural rather than the man-made world. her unaffected, natural manner ingenuous implies inability to disguise or conceal one's feelings or intentions. the ingenuous enthusiasm of children naive suggests lack of worldly wisdom often connoting credulousness and unchecked innocence. politically naive unsophisticated implies a lack of experience and training necessary for social ease and adroitness. unsophisticated adolescents artless suggests a naturalness resulting from unawareness of the effect one is producing on others. artless charm

synonyms see in addition regular

Examples of natural in a Sentence

Adjective furniture made of natural materials The river forms a natural boundary between the two countries. natural foods like whole grain bread and fresh vegetables Gray hair is one of the natural consequences of getting older. a natural increase in the population the natural course of the disease It's perfectly natural to feel nervous before a test. Noun European explorers had a tendency to view the nonwhite peoples they encountered as uncivilized naturals. See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Adjective Kurtis Alexander is an enterprise reporter for The San Francisco Chronicle, with a focus on natural resources and the environment. — Kurtis Alexander, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 May 2022 Most fields saw increases – with salaries for those majoring in math & sciences, and agriculture & natural resources, rising 5.4%. — Wyatte Grantham-philips, USA TODAY, 5 May 2022 That includes providing telecommunications and Earth imaging, as well as disaster response and monitoring natural resources. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN, 5 May 2022 The valley has long leaned on natural resources, historically fur-trading and harvesting timber, as well as farming and ranching. — Washington Post, 4 May 2022 Alaska needs a leader with a vision to promote development of our natural resources, maximize our strategic location in the interest of national security and advance the infrastructure that’s necessary for our most remote communities. — Anchorage Daily News, 3 May 2022 Some investors are reaching into commodities markets, including John Cunnison, chief investment officer at Baker Boyer Bank, who has increased bets on stocks tied to metals and natural resources. — Gunjan Banerji, WSJ, 3 May 2022 Tighter regulations, for example, push businesses to discover more efficient ways of using natural resources. — Henning Ohlsson, Forbes, 3 May 2022 By 2048, when parts of the treaty are up for review, who knows what natural resources the world will be vying for here? — Mary Holland, Robb Report, 1 May 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Mozart sets these words to an ascending major sixth, starting from the dominant, D natural. — Matthew Aucoin, The Atlantic, 23 Nov. 2021 The intrigues played and secrets kept in Dune make this kind of game a natural for a licensed game and Dune: Betrayal fits the genre nicely. — Rob Wieland, Forbes, 27 Oct. 2021 First, there’s the impeccable hot dog ($3.62), which features a snappy natural-casing Vienna Beef sausage topped with just mustard, relish, onions and sport peppers. — Ariel Cheung, chicagotribune.com, 4 Aug. 2021 But with vaccination levels lagging in Black and Brown communities, the program seemed a natural to persuade those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic but are often reluctant to get shots. — Anchorage Daily News, 31 May 2021 But with vaccination levels lagging in Black and Brown communities, the program seemed a natural to persuade those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic but are often reluctant to get shots. — Anchorage Daily News, 31 May 2021 But with vaccination levels lagging in Black and Brown communities, the program seemed a natural to persuade those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic but are often reluctant to get shots. — Anchorage Daily News, 31 May 2021 But with vaccination levels lagging in Black and Brown communities, the program seemed a natural to persuade those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic but are often reluctant to get shots. — Anchorage Daily News, 31 May 2021 Vaccination levels lag in Black and Brown communities, among others, and the barbershop initiative is seen as a natural to persuade those who have been hardest hit by the pandemic but are often reluctant to get shots. — Washington Post, 2 June 2021 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'natural.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.