antinatural
|an-ti-nat-u-ral|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈnætʃ.ə.rəl/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tɪˈnætʃ.ə.rəl/
against nature / not natural
Etymology
'antinatural' originates from the Greek prefix 'anti-' (via Latin and then English) meaning 'against' and the English word 'natural', ultimately from Latin 'naturalis' from 'natura' meaning 'birth, nature'.
'antinatural' was formed in Modern English as a compound of the prefix 'anti-' + the adjective 'natural' (Old French 'naturel', from Latin 'naturalis'). The parts combined in English to produce the sense 'against nature'.
Initially formed to mean 'against nature' in a literal sense; over time it has retained that basic sense but has also acquired moral or evaluative connotations such as 'unnatural' or 'perverse' in some contexts.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
contrary to or not in accordance with nature; unnatural.
The landscape felt antinatural after the invasive construction altered the river's course.
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Adjective 2
contrary to the established order or laws of nature; often used in moral or philosophical contexts to imply perversity or deviation from what is considered natural.
Some critics described the procedure as antinatural and ethically questionable.
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Last updated: 2025/09/04 23:42