unnatural

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

Also spelled unnat’ral

US /ʌnˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹəl/ See IPA manual

Freq #11327

Meanings

1

adj
Not normal; different from what usually happens in nature

The lake had an unnatural green color after the chemical spill.
2

adj
Behaving in a forced, artificial way that does not seem genuine

Her smile looked unnatural and forced in the photo.
3

adj
Morally wrong; going against what is considered right or decent

The villagers saw the cruel act as something unnatural and shocking.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · not normal; different from... abnormal

2 adj · behaving in a forced,... affected

More contranatural

Opposites

natural

Word family

Derived forms unnaturallyunnaturalness

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

unnatural death
a death caused by injury, poisoning, or another external event rather than natural illness or aging

Adjective + noun

Etymology

From Middle English unnatural, unnaturel, equivalent to un- + natural.

unnatural Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# unnatural

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ʌnˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹəl/
**Frequency rank:** 11327

## Meanings
1. Not normal; different from what usually happens in nature
2. Behaving in a forced, artificial way that does not seem genuine
3. Morally wrong; going against what is considered right or decent

## Examples
- The lake had an unnatural green color after the chemical spill.
- Her smile looked unnatural and forced in the photo.
- The villagers saw the cruel act as something unnatural and shocking.

## Synonyms
- contranatural

## Antonyms
- natural

## Derived Forms
- unnaturally
- unnaturalness

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: unnatural

## Etymology
From Middle English unnatural, unnaturel, equivalent to un- + natural.

## AI Etymology
Unnatural is from Middle English unnatural, unnaturel, equivalent to un- + natural. The historical line also includes Middle English unnatural. The surface analysis is Middle English unnatural, unnaturel, equivalent to un- + natural. The prefix un- supplies the negative or reversive element. In present-day use, it can mean not normal; different from what usually happens in nature, or behaving in a forced, artificial way that does not seem genuine. Derived formations include unnaturally, unnaturalness.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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