non-naturalistic
|non-nat-u-ral-is-tic|
🇺🇸
/nɑnˌnætʃəˈrælɪstɪk/
🇬🇧
/nɒnˌnætʃəˈrælɪstɪk/
not aiming to be realistic
Etymology
'non-naturalistic' originates from English, formed from the negative prefix 'non-' (from Latin 'non' meaning 'not') and the adjective 'naturalistic', where 'natural' derives from Latin 'natura' meaning 'birth, nature' and the suffix '-istic' is an English adjective-forming element.
'non-naturalistic' developed in modern English by adding the prefix 'non-' to 'naturalistic'. 'Natural' entered English via Old French 'naturel' from Latin 'natura'; 'naturalistic' is a later English formation using the suffix '-istic'.
Initially it literally meant 'not naturalistic'; over time the term became commonly used in art, theatre, film, and criticism to describe deliberate departures from realistic representation.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
not naturalistic; deliberately not representing subjects in a realistic or lifelike manner (often used of art, theatre, film, or literature).
The play adopted a non-naturalistic approach to dialogue and staging to emphasize its themes.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/08 15:51