natural
natural — adjective
1. describing things that exist in nature — such as animals, plants, rocks, or weat
describing things that exist in nature — such as animals, plants, rocks, or weather — and are not made, changed, or created by human beings
The island's natural beauty attracts thousands of visitors each year.
collocation: natural beauty / natural resources
Pim prefers natural materials like wood and stone for building furniture.
collocation: natural materials / natural fibres
Earthquakes and floods are natural disasters that affect many regions.
collocation: natural disaster / natural phenomenon
This cream is made from natural oils with no artificial additives.
The national park protects the natural habitat of the mountain gorillas.
- natural beauty
- natural resources
- natural disaster
- natural habitat
- natural materials
- natural phenomenon
- natural causes
- organic
strictly refers to living matter and, for food, to cultivation without chemicals
- raw
describes materials in their unprocessed original state, usually mined or harvested
- unprocessed
focuses on the absence of human alteration or refinement
- artificial
made by human skill, imitating something natural
- synthetic
chemically produced rather than occurring in nature
- man-made
created by people, not existing naturally
Common Mistakes
2. describing a quality, skill, or behaviour that someone is born with, rather than
describing a quality, skill, or behaviour that someone is born with, rather than one they learn or develop through practice
Young children have a natural curiosity about the world around them.
collocation: natural curiosity / natural instinct
Ramón has a natural talent for languages and speaks four fluently.
collocation: natural talent / natural ability
Birds have a natural instinct to build nests when spring arrives.
Sade showed a natural gift for drawing from the age of three.
Kemi's natural charm won over the hiring panel during her job interview.
- natural talent
- natural ability
- natural instinct
- natural gift
- natural curiosity
- natural charm
- natural leader
- innate
formal synonym for qualities present from birth, common in academic contexts
- inborn
emphasises that the quality existed at birth
- instinctive
describes automatic, unlearned behaviours or reactions
Usage Note
Frequently used before nouns such as 'talent', 'ability', 'instinct', 'gift', 'curiosity', and 'charm' to describe fixed, inborn qualities rather than acquired ones. Distinguish from sense 1 (IN NATURE), where 'natural' modifies concrete objects or physical phenomena, not personal traits.
Common Mistakes
3. describing someone who acts in a relaxed and real way, without pretending to be
describing someone who acts in a relaxed and real way, without pretending to be different or trying to impress others
Anna is very natural on stage and never seems nervous.
Christopher tried to act natural when his boss walked into the room.
collocation: act natural / look natural
The wedding photos look natural because the couple did not pose stiffly.
During the orientation session, Rafael's natural way of speaking made the nervous newcomers feel included.
His laughter was warm and natural, without any hint of fake politeness.
- act natural
- look natural
- seem natural
- feel natural
- natural smile
- natural manner
- genuine
emphasises sincerity; not pretending to have different feelings from one's real ones
- unaffected
suggests the person is not trying to impress or put on an act
- spontaneous
describes behaviour that arises naturally without planning or constraint
Usage Note
Commonly used in the fixed phrase 'act natural' (stay calm and behave normally in a tense situation). When describing inanimate things like photographs, videos, or performances, it means 'not forced or posed.' Distinguish from sense 1 (IN NATURE), which applies to physical substances and phenomena, and sense 6 (NORMAL & EXPECTED), which applies to situations and reactions.
Common Mistakes
4. describes food or drink that is in its original, pure state, containing no artif
describes food or drink that is in its original, pure state, containing no artificial chemicals, preservatives, or colourings
Many families now choose natural foods that contain no preservatives.
collocation: natural food / natural ingredients
This yoghurt contains only natural ingredients and no added sugar.
Tariq prefers natural fruit juice over fizzy drinks with artificial flavours.
The label says the snack uses only natural colours from vegetables.
More supermarkets are stocking natural skincare products without chemicals.
- natural food
- natural ingredients
- natural flavours
- natural colours
- natural products
- natural remedies
- processed
food that has been altered from its natural state, often with additives
- artificial
containing man-made chemical substances rather than natural ones
Usage Note
When applied to food, 'natural' is not a strictly regulated term in many countries, so products labelled 'natural' may still undergo some processing. It contrasts with 'organic,' which is a certified farming standard. Distinguish from sense 1 (IN NATURE), where 'natural' describes anything found in the physical world rather than only food.
Common Mistakes
5. describes a parent who conceived or gave birth to a child, as distinguished from
describes a parent who conceived or gave birth to a child, as distinguished from a step-parent or adoptive parent
Her natural mother gave birth at the age of seventeen.
collocation: natural mother / natural father / natural parent
Ishaan was adopted as a baby and later found his natural father.
In some countries, natural parents maintain rights even after adoption.
The social worker arranged a meeting between the child and his natural family.
The law recognises both adoptive parents and natural parents in inheritance cases.
- natural parent
- natural mother
- natural father
- natural family
- natural child
- biological
the more common and neutral modern term for a birth parent
- birth
used before 'parent/mother/father' to identify the parent involved in the child's birth
Usage Note
Primarily a legal or formal term. In everyday conversation, 'biological parent' or 'birth parent' is more common. The word 'natural' in this sense can sound dated to some speakers. Distinguish from sense 2 (INBORN ABILITY), which also refers to birth origins but applies to skills and traits, not family relationships.
Common Mistakes
6. happening in the usual way that most people would expect, without being unusual
happening in the usual way that most people would expect, without being unusual or surprising
It is natural to feel nervous before a job interview.
pattern: It is natural + to-infinitive
Making mistakes is a natural part of learning a new skill.
Parents find it natural to worry about their teenage children.
It is only natural that friends want to help one another in difficult times.
pattern: It is only natural that + clause
As puppies grow older, it is natural for them to explore their surroundings.
- it is natural to
- it is natural that
- perfectly natural
- only natural
- natural reaction
- natural consequence
- natural response
- normal
the closest synonym; interchangeable in most contexts but slightly less formal
- expected
focuses on anticipation and social norms rather than inherent nature
- understandable
shifts emphasis from statistical normality to emotional reasonableness
- unusual
not happening often or not typical
- abnormal
deviating from what is considered typical or standard
- surprising
causing a feeling of unexpectedness rather than natural acceptance
Grammar Patterns
it is natural + to-infinitive
it is natural + that-clause
Usage Note
Most common in the fixed constructions 'it is natural + to-infinitive' and 'it is natural + that-clause.' The intensifier 'only' (it is only natural that…) is a common collocation in this sense. Distinguish from sense 3 (RELAXED & GENUINE), which describes a person's manner or style, not the expected nature of an event or feeling.
Common Mistakes
7. describing a musical note that is played at its normal pitch, not raised by a sh
describing a musical note that is played at its normal pitch, not raised by a sharp (♯) or lowered by a flat (♭)
The piece has a B natural in the second bar instead of B flat.
pattern: [note name] + natural, e.g. 'B natural'
Élise played an F natural where the sheet music said F sharp.
On a piano keyboard, the natural notes are the white keys.
When the key signature changes, the C natural replaces the earlier C sharp.
The composer placed a natural sign before the G to correct the harmony.
- B natural
- F natural
- C natural
- natural sign
- natural note
- natural key
Grammar Patterns
[note name] + natural
Usage Note
Used after the name of a note (e.g., 'A natural,' 'E natural'). The written symbol is ♮. This sense belongs to musical terminology and is not used in general conversation. Distinguish from sense 2 (INBORN ABILITY) where 'natural' is a general adjective — here it is a post-positioned modifier in music notation.
natural — noun
1. someone who possesses an exceptional skill or talent from birth, requiring littl
someone who possesses an exceptional skill or talent from birth, requiring little or no formal training to perform well
As a guitarist, Mateo is a natural — he learned everything by ear.
idiomatic construction: be a natural
His coach called him a natural because he picked up tennis so fast.
Ada is a natural at maths and solves problems very quickly.
pattern: a natural at [something]
You can tell from her first painting that she is a natural artist.
The director saw the young actor as a natural for the leading role.
pattern: a natural for [role/position]
- a natural
- a natural at
- a natural for
- a natural in
- born talent
a slightly informal phrase emphasising that the talent was present from birth
- prodigy
a young person with exceptional abilities, usually in a specific field like music or maths
- gifted person
someone with a special natural ability, often in intellectual or artistic areas
Grammar Patterns
a natural + at/in [something]
Usage Note
Always used with the indefinite article: 'a natural.' Common prepositions follow: 'a natural at' (for skills or activities: 'a natural at chess'), 'a natural for' (for roles or positions: 'a natural for the job'). The word is usually followed by a noun or noun phrase specifying the area of talent.
Common Mistakes
2. a printed sign (♮) in sheet music that tells the performer to play a note at its
a printed sign (♮) in sheet music that tells the performer to play a note at its regular pitch, removing the effect of an earlier sharp or flat
The natural sign before the G cancels the sharp from the key signature.
term: natural sign (♮)
Eitan saw the natural next to the F and played the white key.
The composer added a natural before the A to correct the chord.
In sight-reading, you must watch for accidentals like sharps, flats, and naturals.
The pianist missed the natural and played a G sharp instead of G.
- natural sign
- natural symbol
- cancelling natural
- cautionary natural
- natural sign
the full name for the symbol ♮, used to avoid confusion with the general word 'natural'
- sharp sign
the symbol (♯) that raises a note by one semitone
- flat sign
the symbol (♭) that lowers a note by one semitone
Usage Note
In music instruction, this is often referred to as a 'natural sign' to distinguish the symbol from the general adjective. The plural is 'naturals.' Commonly grouped with 'sharps' and 'flats' under the term 'accidentals.'
Common Mistakes
natural — adverb
1. behaving or doing something with a relaxed, genuine manner, free from pretence o
behaving or doing something with a relaxed, genuine manner, free from pretence or artificiality
Just behave naturally and do not worry about what others think.
collocation: behave naturally / act naturally
Anna spoke naturally during her presentation and did not read from notes.
When the balloon popped at the party, baby Amelia reacted naturally by laughing with delight.
Christopher smiled naturally when he saw his old friend at the station.
The conversation flowed naturally once everyone had relaxed a little.
- behave naturally
- act naturally
- speak naturally
- come naturally
- flow naturally
- effortlessly
emphasises doing something with no apparent difficulty
- unaffectedly
formal word meaning without pretence or artificiality
- artificially
in a way that feels forced or imitative
- stiffly
in a rigid, tense, or formal manner
Usage Note
The adverb 'naturally' has two additional common meanings not covered by this sense: (1) 'of course' or 'as expected' (e.g., 'Naturally, she was upset'), and (2) 'as a result of natural processes' (e.g., 'Plants grow naturally in this climate'). This sense is specifically about relaxed, unforced behaviour.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- naturenounA2
- naturallyadverbB1
- unnaturaladjectiveB2
- naturalistnounC1
- naturalisticadjectiveC1
- naturalizeverbC2
- supernaturaladjectiveB2
- naturalismnounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: adjective/1
All five adjectives describe things close to their original state, but they differ in scope. 'Natural' (adjective/1) is the broadest — it covers anything existing in the physical world, from landscapes to disasters to fibres. 'Organic' is narrower: it refers specifically to living matter (organic vegetables) or, for food, to certified farming without synthetic chemicals. 'Pure' focuses on the absence of contamination — pure water has no pollutants, but it may have been filtered by machines. 'Raw' describes materials fresh from harvest or extraction with no processing at all — raw wool, raw vegetables. 'Unprocessed' overlaps with 'raw' but emphasises the lack of human alteration rather than the freshness. For example: 'The organic label guarantees no pesticides were used, but the product may still not be raw. A natural fibre like cotton is natural and often organic, but the fabric you wear has been processed into thread and cloth.'
Common collocations
Nouns
Phrases
- natural-born
- by natural means
- natural selection
- natural causes
Etymology
The word 'natural' entered English around the 13th century through Old French 'naturel,' from Latin 'naturalis,' meaning 'by birth, according to nature.' The Latin root 'natura' (nature, character) comes from 'natus,' the past participle of 'nasci' (to be born). The core sense — 'belonging to one's birth or inherent character' — was present from the earliest English uses. By the 15th century, the meaning had expanded to cover 'the physical world and its phenomena,' and by the 17th century it acquired the contrast with 'artificial' (man-made).