natural

NACH-ruhl/ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹəl/

29 meanings of natural

1
not man-madeadjective
Made by nature, not made by people or machines.
This sweater is made from natural wool.
We hiked past a natural rock bridge shaped by wind and water.
UsageThe opposite is artificial or man-made.
Oppositeartificial, man-made, synthetic
2
to be expectedadjective
What anyone would expect in a situation. Normal and reasonable.
It's natural to feel nervous before a big test.
Crying at a sad movie is a natural reaction.
UsageSay it's natural to feel nervous.
Similarnormal, understandable, reasonable, logical, obvious
Oppositeunnatural, abnormal, strange
Note
3
no additivesadjective
Having nothing fake or man-made added. For food, no man-made colors or flavors added.
This juice is natural, with no added sugar or colors.
We buy natural peanut butter that contains only peanuts and salt.
UsageSay natural ingredients.
Similarpure, unprocessed
Oppositeartificial, processed
4
inborn traitadjective
Part of how a person or thing is from birth, not learned later.
Like the color of your eyes: you are born with it, you did not choose it.
Her natural curiosity made her ask questions about everything.
Cats have a natural fear of water.
UsageSay natural talent.
Similarinnate, inborn, inherent, instinctive, native
Oppositeacquired, learned
Note
5
proper (to it)adjective
Going together with something as a normal part of what it is.
Grasslands are the natural home of zebras.
Milk is a kitten's natural food.
Similarnative
6
of deathadjective
Used about death that comes from illness or old age, not from violence or accidents.
The doctor said her grandfather died of natural causes.
At ninety-eight, the old farmer died a natural death in his sleep.
UsageSay someone died of natural causes.
Oppositeviolent, unnatural, accidental
Note
7
adjective
Born with the skill to do a job or play a role well.
She's a natural leader who people follow without being asked.
He's a natural storyteller and keeps the whole room listening.
UsageSay a natural leader.
Similarborn, instinctive, gifted
Note
8
adjective
Left in its own color, without dye or stain, so the material looks the way it really is.
They gave the oak table a natural finish so the grain would show.
The walls are painted, but the wooden beams were left natural.
UsageSay a natural finish.
Similarundyed, unstained
Oppositedyed, stained
9
adjective
Acting in a relaxed way, like your real self, without pretending.
Try to be natural and just talk the way you always do.
He was nervous at first, but he looked natural by the end of the interview.
Similarrelaxed, unaffected, casual, unselfconscious, spontaneous
Oppositeaffected, stiff, artificial, self-conscious
Note

Less common meanings

10
nouncountable or uncountable
A person who is very good at something without needing to learn it.
She picked up the guitar and played like a natural.
He's a natural at making friends.
UsageSay she's a natural at singing.
11
off-whitenoununcountable
A light, almost white color with a little gray, yellow, or brown in it.
They painted the kitchen in natural, a soft off-white.
The store sells the sweater in black, navy, and natural.
UsageSay the curtains come in natural.
Similarecru, off-white
12
adjective
In music, describing a note that is not sharp and not flat.
Like the white keys on a piano, with nothing extra added.
Play B natural there, not B flat.
The song uses only natural notes, so it's easy on the piano.
UsageSay C natural, like C sharp.
Oppositesharp, flat
Note
13
nouncountable or uncountable
In music, a note that is not sharp or flat, or the sign ♮ that marks it.
Play a natural there, not a sharp.
Every note in the scale of C major is a natural.
Oppositesharp, flat
14
hairstylenouncolloquialUScountable or uncountable
A hairstyle where Afro-textured hair is left curly and not straightened or treated.
She cut off the relaxed ends and now wears a natural.
Grandma's photos from the seventies show her with a big natural.
UsageSay someone wears a natural.
Note
15
blood relationadjective
Related to someone by birth, not by adoption or marriage.
She met her natural mother for the first time at age thirty.
He was raised by his aunt but stayed close to his natural parents.
UsageSay natural parents or birth parents.
Similarbiological
Oppositeadoptive, foster
Note
16
outside marriageadjective
Born to parents who were not married to each other.
The earl provided for his natural son in his will.
She was raised as the painter's natural daughter, never carrying his name.
Similarillegitimate
Oppositelegitimate
Note
17
no steroids (sport)adjective
Not using steroids or other drugs to get stronger or build muscle.
He stayed natural even when other lifters started using steroids.
She entered the natural division of the bodybuilding contest.
Similarclean, drug-free
Oppositeenhanced
Note
18
steroid-free personnouncountable or uncountable
An athlete who does not use steroids or other muscle-building drugs.
As a natural, he trains hard but gains muscle slowly.
The contest has a separate group for naturals.
UsageAlso called a natty.
Note
19
winning first rollnouncountable or uncountable
In the dice game craps, a first roll of the two dice that adds up to 7 or 11.
She rolled a natural and won right away.
The dealer called out the natural before paying the winning bets.
Note
20
rightful ruleradjective
Having a position or power because of the family you were born into.
The people still saw the old king's son as their natural lord.
The villagers still saw the old duke's family as their natural lords.
Similarrightful, hereditary, legitimate
Note
21
unforcedadverbdialectal
In a normal, easy way, without trying hard or pretending.
Just talk natural, like you do at home.
She dances natural, without trying too hard.
UsageCareful writing uses naturally instead.
Similarfreely, easily, effortlessly
Note
22
real breastnounslangcountable or uncountableplural
A breast that has not been changed by surgery.
She laughed and said both of hers are naturals.
Only the left one is a natural, since the right was rebuilt after surgery.
UsageIn polite talk, say natural breasts.
23
roll before bonusesadjective
In dice games, the number you really roll, before anything is added or taken away.
Like a test score before the teacher adds any extra credit.
She rolled a natural 20 and the whole table cheered.
His natural roll was only a 5, but his bonus brought it up to 9.
UsageSay a natural 20.
Similarunmodified
Oppositemodified
Note
24
lifetimenouncolloquialUKcountable or uncountable
Your life. British speakers use it in phrases like 'in all my natural.'
I've never been so soaked in all my natural.
I've never tasted a pie this good in all my natural!
UsageSay never in all my natural.
Similarlife
Note
25
bridge (bidding)adjective
In the card game bridge, making bids that honestly show the cards in your hand.
Her natural bid of one heart promised real hearts in her hand.
Their bidding stays natural, so each partner knows what every call means.
Oppositeartificial, conventional
Note
26
nounarchaiccountable or uncountable
A person born in a particular place or country.
Note
27
nounarchaiccountable or uncountable
A person with a very simple mind. A fool.
"Why you are a natural! I thought you had learned something by this time.
1897, Stanley John Weyman, ShrewsburyHere, natural means a fool or very simple person.
Similarfool, idiot, blockhead, airhead, birdbrain
Note
28
adjective
In math, describing the direct value of a function like sine, not a changed form used for easier calculating.
29
adjective
In advanced math, describing a collection that still contains the parts, sums, and standard extensions of its members.

Practice

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Origin

It comes from Latin nātūrālis, based on the idea of being born. It came into English through Old French.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts

Natural derives from Latin nātūrālis. en.wiktionary.org
Its etymology is connected with being born. en.wiktionary.org
Natural entered English through Old French. en.wiktionary.org