naturalistic

[nach-er-uh-lis-tik, nach-ruh-]

adjective

1. imitating nature or the usual natural surroundings.

2. pertaining to naturalists or natural history.

3. pertaining to naturalism, especially in literature and art.

naturalistic

/ ˌnætʃrəˈlɪstɪk, -tʃərə- /

adjective

1. of, imitating, or reproducing nature in effect or characteristics

2. of or characteristic of naturalism, esp in art or literature

3. of or relating to naturalists

4. (of an ethical theory) permitting the inference of ethical judgments from statements of nonethical fact See Hume's law

Other Word Forms

• naturalistically adverb
• antinaturalistic adjective
• nonnaturalistic adjective
• unnaturalistic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of naturalistic¹

First recorded in 1830–40; natural + -istic

Example Sentences

Though the production is naturalistic — in a way that ties it to an earlier, golden era of British productions — the dialogue can sound highly composed.

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The writer-director, whose filmography includes “Last Summer in the Hamptons” and “Eating,” was known for his intimate, naturalistic style and foregrounding of women’s stories in his work.

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Idealized depictions of the naturalistic human form didn’t flourish in the region for another thousand years — the so-called Golden Age of the classical era.

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He seizes our attention in every scene, naturalistically conveying Robbie’s touching decency as the walls close in on him.

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Minervini’s naturalistic, observational style is on display from the film’s first scene, which lingers on a pack of wolves meticulously digging into an animal carcass.

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Related Words

• down-to-earth 
• hard-boiled 
• lifelike 
• sober 
• unsentimental