NYT Dictionary

NATURAL

/ˈnæt͡ʃ.(ə.)ɹəl/

AdjectiveNounAdverbNAT-u-ralnat-u-ral · 3 syllablesGrade 4

Accepted in official NYT Spelling Bee puzzle years: 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022

Meaning

Existing in nature.

Etymology

Origin: Old English

Inherited from Middle English natural, borrowed from Old French natural, naturel, from Latin nātūrālis, from nātus, the perfect participle of nāscor (“be born”, verb). Displaced native Old English ġecynde. By surface analysis, natur(e) + -al.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Synonyms

congenitalinborn connateconnaturalcongenitegenetousinbredindigenousingeniteinnate

Antonyms

aberrantabnormalartificialunexpectedweirdavertableavoidabledodgeableescapableevadable

NYT Puzzle Appearances

No published puzzle dates on file for this word yet. It is part of the official NYT Spelling Bee word list for 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022.