natural history

noun

1

: a treatise on some aspect of nature

2

: the natural development of something (such as an organism or disease) over a period of time

3

: the study of natural objects especially in the field from an amateur or popular point of view

Examples of natural history in a Sentence

the natural history of bees

We went to the Natural History Museum.

Recent Examples on the Web

Concerted efforts to preserve the area's rich natural history didn't take millions of the years, but the work took decades to finish due to the sheer amount of funding and site planning needed. —Leo Bertucci, Louisville Courier Journal, 25 Oct. 2025

Adrienne Mayor explores the folklore behind natural history. —Literary Hub, 22 Oct. 2025

The department said in a social media post that assistant natural history biologist Amanda Gehin found a white monarch butterfly, a variation of the famous insect that is most often seen in Hawaii. —Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 18 Oct. 2025

Biological engineering in action Our research combines old-fashioned natural history observations with cutting-edge, biomechanical analysis. —James T. Stroud, The Conversation, 13 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for natural history

• consistory
• ethnohistory
• mystery

Kids Definition

natural history

noun

: the study of natural objects and especially plants and animals as they live in nature from an amateur or popular point of view

Medical Definition

natural history

noun

: the natural development of something (as an organism or disease) over a period of time

increasing knowledge of the natural histories of tumors

—H. S. N. Greene