natural
/ˈnætʃ.ər.əl/ IELTSAcademic
adjective
Made by nature, not by people. It can also mean normal, expected, or easy to understand.
- This lake is a natural habitat for birds.
- Her reaction seemed natural to me.
- He has a natural talent for music.
noun
A person who has a natural ability to do something well. It is usually used in sports, arts, or learning.
- She's a natural at public speaking.
- He was a natural on the football field.
- The teacher said the child is a natural.
Adinary Nuance
Natural is broader than common near-neighbors like 'normal', 'plain', and 'automatic'. It often means something comes from nature, from a person's ability, or from what feels expected and not forced. Writers choose it when they want a word that sounds simple but can cover several related ideas.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- tự nhiên
- Spanish
- natural
- Chinese
- 自然的
- Japanese
- 自然の
- Korean
- 자연스러운
Etymology
From Latin naturalis, from natura meaning 'birth' or 'nature'. It came into English through Old French in the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
natural beautynatural talentnatural disasternatural selection
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between natural and normal?
- Natural means from nature or not forced. Normal means usual or standard.
- Is natural a positive word?
- Often yes, but not always. It can also be neutral, like a natural disaster.
- Can I say 'a natural' for a person?
- Yes. It means someone is very good at something without much effort.
- Is natural used in academic writing?
- Yes, especially in science and formal writing. It is very common in IELTS and academic English.