natural
Natural (adj) means existing in nature; not made or caused by people. Example: “The cave was formed by natural erosion over thousands of years.”
How to use natural
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOccurring in nature, expected/normal, or (for people) gifted at something without needing to learn it.
Word forms
more natural comparative, more natural comparative, naturals plural, most natural superlative, most natural superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The cave was formed by _____ erosion over thousands of years.
Etymology
From Latin nātūrālis, from nātūra, "nature," ultimately from nāscor, "to be born."
Related words
Rhymes for natural
Frequently asked questions
What does “natural” mean?
The word “natural” means existing in nature; not made or caused by people. In plain terms, occurring in nature, expected/normal, or (for people) gifted at something without needing to learn it.
How do you pronounce “natural”?
“Natural” is pronounced NACH-ruhl (/ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “natural” in a sentence?
Here is “natural” used in a sentence: “The cave was formed by natural erosion over thousands of years.”
What part of speech is “natural”?
Depending on how it is used, “natural” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “natural” come from?
The word “natural” comes from Latin. From Latin nātūrālis, from nātūra, "nature," ultimately from nāscor, "to be born.".
Is “natural” a common word?
“Natural” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “natural” have?
“Natural” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: existing in nature; not made or caused by people.
What is the difference between natural and artificial?
'Natural' means existing in or produced by nature, without human involvement, so sunlight, rivers, and wood are natural. 'Artificial' means made or caused by people, often to imitate something real, like artificial light or artificial flavouring. The dividing line is simply whether nature or human manufacture produced the thing.
What is the difference between natural and organic?
'Natural' broadly means coming from nature and not artificially made, but it isn't tightly regulated on labels. 'Organic' is a stricter, certified term meaning food grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilisers, or additives. So all organic produce is natural, but a product labelled 'natural' is not necessarily organic.
Does 'natural' mean healthy or safe?
Not automatically. Natural simply means something occurs in nature rather than being made by people; it says nothing about whether it's good for you. Plenty of natural substances, from certain mushrooms to venom, are harmful. 'Natural' on a label is reassuring marketing, not a guarantee of health or safety.
What are examples of natural things?
Natural things include sunlight, rain, wind, rivers, mountains, and oceans, along with materials like wood, stone, cotton, and wool. Living organisms such as plants, animals, and people are natural too. What unites them is that nature produced them, without being manufactured or artificially created by human beings.
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