nat·u·ral
ˈna-ch(ə-)rəl 
1
: based on an inherent sense of right and wrong
natural justice
2
a
: being in accordance with or determined by nature
natural impulses
b
: having or constituting a classification based on features existing in nature
3
a
: connected by direct genetic relationship rather than by adoption or marriage : biological
their natural son
her natural parents
b
: born to parents not married to each other
a natural child
c
archaic
: born in wedlock : legitimate
4
: having an essential relation with someone or something : following from the nature of the one in question
his guilt is a natural deduction from the evidence
5
: implanted or being as if implanted by nature : seemingly inborn
a natural talent for art
6
: of or relating to nature as an object of study and research
natural observations
7
: having a specified character by nature
a natural athlete
a natural leader
8
a
: occurring in conformity with the ordinary course of nature : not marvelous or supernatural
natural causes
died a natural death
b
: formulated by human reason alone rather than revelation
natural religion
natural rights
c
: having a normal or usual character
events followed their natural course
9
: possessing or exhibiting the higher qualities (such as kindliness and affection) of human nature
… a noble … brother … ever most kind and natural …—
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare10
a
: growing without human care
also
: not cultivated
natural prairie unbroken by the plow
b
: existing in or produced by nature : not artificial
natural turf
natural curiosities
c
: relating to or being natural food
11
a
: being in a state of nature without spiritual enlightenment : unregenerate
natural man
b
: living in or as if in a state of nature untouched by the influences of civilization and society
12
a
: having a physical or real existence as contrasted with one that is spiritual, intellectual, or fictitious
A corporation is a legal but not a natural person.
b
: of, relating to, or operating in the physical as opposed to the spiritual world
Natural laws describe phenomena of the physical universe.
13
a
: closely resembling an original : true to nature
b
: marked by easy simplicity and freedom from artificiality, affectation, or constraint
Successful people are genuine and natural rather than synthetic and imitative.—Gilbert Seldes
Gilbert Seldes
c
: having a form or appearance found in nature
natural hair
14
a
: having neither flats nor sharps
the natural scale of C major
b
: being neither sharp nor flat
natural musical notes
c
: having the pitch modified by the natural sign
15
: of an off-white or beige color
1
: one born without the usual powers of reason and understanding
2
a
: a sign ♮ placed on any degree of the musical staff to nullify the effect of a preceding sharp or flat
b
: a note or tone affected by the natural sign
3
: a result or combination that immediately wins the stake in a game: such as
a
: a throw of 7 or 11 on the first cast in craps
4
a
: one having natural skills, talents, or abilities
b
: something that is likely to become an immediate success
c
: one that is obviously suitable for a specific purpose
5
: afro
Synonyms
Adjective
Noun
- airhead
- birdbrain
- blockhead
- bonehead
- bubblehead
- chowderhead
- chucklehead
- clodpoll
- clodpole
- clot [British]
- cluck
- clunk
- cretin
- cuddy [British dialect]
- cuddie
- deadhead
- dim bulb [slang]
- dimwit
- dip
- dodo
- dolt
- donkey
- doofus [slang]
- dope
- dork [slang]
- dullard
- dum-dum
- dumbbell
- dumbhead
- dummkopf
- dummy
- dunce
- dunderhead
- fathead
- gander
- golem
- goof
- goon
- half-wit
- hammerhead
- hardhead
- idiot
- ignoramus
- imbecile
- jackass
- know-nothing
- knucklehead
- lamebrain
- loggerhead [chiefly dialect]
- loon
- lump
- lunkhead
- meathead
- mome [archaic]
- moron
- mug [chiefly British]
- mutt
- nimrod [slang]
- nincompoop
- ninny
- ninnyhammer
- nit [chiefly British]
- nitwit
- noddy
- noodle
- numskull
- numbskull
- oaf
- pinhead
- prat [British]
- ratbag [chiefly Australian]
- saphead
- schlub [slang]
- shlub
- schnook [slang]
- simpleton
- stock
- stupe
- stupid
- thickhead
- turkey
- woodenhead
- yahoo
- yo-yo
Examples of natural in a Sentence
Adjective
furniture made of natural materials
The river forms a natural boundary between the two countries.
natural foods like whole grain bread and fresh vegetables
Gray hair is one of the natural consequences of getting older.
a natural increase in the population
the natural course of the disease
It's perfectly natural to feel nervous before a test.
Noun
European explorers had a tendency to view the nonwhite peoples they encountered as uncivilized naturals.
Recent Examples on the Web
Arik Kershenbaum, WIRED, 22 Dec. 2024
Why Year-End Feedback Matters The end of the year is a natural time for reflection, but feedback elevates that reflection into actionable growth.
—Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
Annie Blay, Allure, 23 Dec. 2024
Still, McDonald, winner of six Tony Awards, is not, in a sense, a natural for the part of Rose, a role usually played by a star riding her larger-than-life charisma and blistering belt to a standing ovation.
—Adam Moss, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for natural 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
Now, new automatic detection algorithms based on convolutional neural networks can race through thousands of hours of recordings, picking out the animal sounds and clustering them into different types, according to their natural acoustic characteristics.
—Arik Kershenbaum, WIRED, 22 Dec. 2024
Why Year-End Feedback Matters The end of the year is a natural time for reflection, but feedback elevates that reflection into actionable growth.
—Scott Hutcheson, Forbes, 22 Dec. 2024
Noun
The lazy naturals are folks who don’t want to compromise the integrity of their curls but can’t stand the thought of long washdays and laborious maintenance.
—Annie Blay, Allure, 23 Dec. 2024
Still, McDonald, winner of six Tony Awards, is not, in a sense, a natural for the part of Rose, a role usually played by a star riding her larger-than-life charisma and blistering belt to a standing ovation.
—Adam Moss, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for natural
Dictionary Entries Near natural
Cite this Entry
“Natural.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
natural
1 of 2 adjective
nat·u·ral
ˈnach-(ə-)rəl
1
: born in or with one : innate
natural ability
2
: being such by nature : born
a natural musician
3
: biological sense 2
her natural parents
4
a
: growing without human care
natural forests
b
: existing in or produced by nature
natural scenery
c
: relating to or being natural food
5
: human entry 1 sense 1
it is not natural to howl at the moon
6
: of, relating to, or following the usual events and happenings of nature or the physical world : not miraculous
natural causes
7
: not made or changed by humans
natural silk
a person's natural complexion
8
: being simple and sincere
natural manners
9
: lifelike
the people in the picture look natural
10
a
: having neither sharps nor flats in the key signature
b
: having a sharp or a flat changed in pitch by a natural sign
naturalness
noun
natural
2 of 2 noun1
a
: a sign ♮ placed on a line or space of the musical staff to change a sharp or flat in the key signature back to the natural tone value
b
: a note or tone changed by the natural sign
2
: one naturally able to do or to learn easily how to do something
a natural at golf
3
: afro
Medical Definition
natural
adjective
nat·u·ral
ˈnach-(ə-)rəl
1
: having, constituting, or relating to a classification based on features existing in nature
2
: of or relating to nature as an object of study and research
3
: relating to or being natural food
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