Natural describes something that exists in nature or happens without human intervention. A natural lake formed over thousands of years from melting glaciers, while an artificial lake is created by building a dam. Natural light comes from the sun, while electric light is artificial. When a forest grows wild without anyone planting or managing it, that's a natural forest.

The word also describes behaviors or abilities that seem effortless and unforced. When someone is a natural at basketball, they pick up skills easily and play with an instinctive flow that others have to work hard to achieve. Acting naturally means behaving in a relaxed, genuine way rather than putting on a show or trying to impress people.

In science, natural often contrasts with artificial or synthetic. Natural rubber comes from rubber trees, while synthetic rubber is manufactured in factories from chemicals. Natural disasters like earthquakes and hurricanes occur without human causes, though humans can make their effects worse.

People sometimes use natural to mean normal or expected, as in “it's only natural to feel nervous before performing on stage.” This usage suggests that something fits with how things typically work or how people typically feel. The opposite might be unnatural, which describes something that seems forced, unusual, or contrary to how things normally happen.