natural resource
noun
1
natural resources plural
: industrial materials and capacities (such as mineral deposits and waterpower) supplied by nature
Examples of natural resource in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At its core, preservation involves strict limits on the human use of, and interaction with, natural resources.
—
Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 29 Nov. 2023
Helping Protect Natural Resources Using Advanced Geospatial Tech And AI
Geospatial technology and innovations hold the key to sustainable sourcing, protecting forests and oceans, and other significant steps toward conservation and preservation of our natural resources.
—Yael Maguire, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Some natural resources are incredibly hardy, others fragile.
—Craig Caudill, Field & Stream, 18 Oct. 2023
Government officials get kickbacks from local and foreign fixers who collect money from sales of mining rights and natural resource assets.
—Nicolas Niarchos, The New York Review of Books, 16 Nov. 2023
Much of their business revolves around importing various goods to the Japanese islands, which, while flush with cash thanks to Japan’s advanced economy, have relatively scarce natural resources.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2023
Alongside the rush to claim natural resources and establish military presence, climate change is necessitating another infrastructure boom—safeguarding Northern communities that are among the most climate-vulnerable in North America.
—Stephen Lezak, The New Republic, 1 Nov. 2023
The underlying elements of national power, such as demography, geography, and natural resources, matter, but history shows that these are not enough to determine which countries will shape the future.
—Jake Sullivan, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
Poverty, crime, lagging healthcare services, the indifference of powerful nations that extract natural resources while doing little for everyday people — many factors have spurred her compatriots to flee the island.
—Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023
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Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 29 Nov. 2023
Helping Protect Natural Resources Using Advanced Geospatial Tech And AI
Geospatial technology and innovations hold the key to sustainable sourcing, protecting forests and oceans, and other significant steps toward conservation and preservation of our natural resources.
—Yael Maguire, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
Some natural resources are incredibly hardy, others fragile.
—Craig Caudill, Field & Stream, 18 Oct. 2023
Government officials get kickbacks from local and foreign fixers who collect money from sales of mining rights and natural resource assets.
—Nicolas Niarchos, The New York Review of Books, 16 Nov. 2023
Much of their business revolves around importing various goods to the Japanese islands, which, while flush with cash thanks to Japan’s advanced economy, have relatively scarce natural resources.
—Paolo Confino, Fortune, 1 Nov. 2023
Alongside the rush to claim natural resources and establish military presence, climate change is necessitating another infrastructure boom—safeguarding Northern communities that are among the most climate-vulnerable in North America.
—Stephen Lezak, The New Republic, 1 Nov. 2023
The underlying elements of national power, such as demography, geography, and natural resources, matter, but history shows that these are not enough to determine which countries will shape the future.
—Jake Sullivan, Foreign Affairs, 24 Oct. 2023
Poverty, crime, lagging healthcare services, the indifference of powerful nations that extract natural resources while doing little for everyday people — many factors have spurred her compatriots to flee the island.
—Tyrone Beason, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'natural resource.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Dictionary Entries Near natural resource
Cite this Entry
“Natural resource.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20resource. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
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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)
More from Merriam-Webster on natural resource
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about natural resource
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