natural resource

noun

1

natural resources plural : industrial materials and capacities (such as mineral deposits and waterpower) supplied by nature

2

: resource sense 1b

Examples of natural resource in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The hope for gold-producing nations like Ghana is to responsibly leverage this bountiful natural resource without falling prey to environmental degradation and civil strife. —Charlie Campbell, Time, 15 Oct. 2025

As well as putting themselves at risk, visitors who engage in dangerous activity could damage the park and its natural resources. —Kate Plummer, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

Ultimately, California cannot force mineral rights owners to shoulder the price of its destructive war against natural resources. —Chris Kieser, Oc Register, 14 Oct. 2025

This future-proof framing resonates with investors, particularly as natural resources like water are impacted and materials such as cashmere become more difficult to source as a result. —Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 13 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

natural resource

noun

: something (as a mineral, waterpower source, forest, or kind of animal) that is found in nature and is valuable to humans (as in providing a source of energy, recreation, or scenic beauty)