Word
unnatural
Phoneticsun·nat·u·ral, stress on the second syllable
US/ənˈnætʃɝəɫ/
UK/ʌnnˈætʃəɹəl/
Definitions
01artificial or man-made
B2 · Upper Intermediate Science
adj. not made by nature; created by people or machines.
adj. not occurring in the natural environment; synthetic or artificial in origin.
“The bright green color of the soda looked completely unnatural.”
“The scientist noted that the chemical compound was entirely unnatural, having been synthesized in a high-pressure laboratory environment.”
Synonyms
02strange or forced
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. not appearing normal or relaxed; feeling forced or fake.
adj. lacking spontaneity or ease; appearing affected, stilted, or contrived.
“He gave an unnatural smile when he saw his rival enter the room.”
“The actor's performance felt unnatural, as if he were reciting lines rather than inhabiting the character's emotional state.”
Antonyms
03against nature
C1 · Advanced Formal
adj. going against what is considered normal or right in the natural world.
adj. contrary to the laws of nature or established biological norms; often carries a moralizing tone.
“Some people used to think that certain behaviors were unnatural.”
“The philosopher argued that the concept of what is unnatural is often a social construct used to marginalize minority groups.”
Real-World Examples
“Generated by an internal large language model (LLM), OpenAI’s proof relies on an approach that many experts find unnatural.” “But I have fallen for one of their trowels, longer and narrower than the one I normally use, still shining in the shed with unnatural brightness.” Etymology
From Middle English unnatural, unnaturel, equivalent to un- + natural.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/unnatural