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

In the city of Mashhad in northeast Iran, there's a natural history museum associated with local Ferdowsi University that gets all manner of donations, including animals that died in the road and injured birds. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 17 July 2026

Among those shaping the field is Sal Aaron, director of David Aaron Gallery in London, which specializes in fossils, antiquities, and natural history objects. — George Nelson, ARTnews.com, 14 July 2026

Sotheby's natural history auction includes numerous other fossils and items up for sale. — Megan Fahrney, ABC News, 14 July 2026

Here was proof that the United States was a land with its own natural history and full of wonders. — Steven Johnson, Washington Post, 14 July 2026

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