anti-naturalist
|an-ti-nat-u-ral-ist|
/ˌæntiˈnætʃ(ə)rəlɪst/
against naturalism
Etymology
'anti-naturalist' originates from a combination of elements: the prefix 'anti-' from Greek 'antí' meaning 'against' and 'naturalist,' which ultimately traces to Latin 'natura' (through French/Latin forms) meaning 'birth, nature,' with the agent-forming suffix '-ist' (from Greek/Latin) denoting an adherent or advocate.
'naturalist' entered English from French/Latin formations (French 'naturaliste', Late Latin 'naturalis'), and the modern compound 'anti-naturalist' was formed in English by combining the Greek-derived prefix 'anti-' with the established English noun/adjective 'naturalist' to indicate opposition.
Initially 'naturalist' meant 'relating to nature' (from Latin 'natura'); over time it came to denote a person or doctrine emphasizing natural explanations, and 'anti-naturalist' developed to mean 'opposed to those naturalistic doctrines or explanations.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a person who opposes naturalism — i.e., who rejects or argues against naturalistic explanations or doctrines in philosophy, ethics, art, or religion.
He was known as an anti-naturalist in metaphysics, arguing that not everything can be explained by natural causes.
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Adjective 1
opposed to naturalism; describing a stance, theory, or work that rejects or resists naturalistic explanations or methods.
The critic described the play as anti-naturalist in its rejection of strictly realistic staging.
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Last updated: 2025/11/08 15:18