natal
adjective
of or relating to a person's birth.
natal
1 American
[nayt-l]
/ ˈneɪt l /
adjective
-
of or relating to a person's birth.
celebrating one's natal day.
-
presiding over or affecting a person at birth.
natal influences.
-
(of places) native.
nostalgia for one's natal town.
Natal
2
American
[nuh-tal, -tahl, nuh-tawl]
/ nəˈtæl, -ˈtɑl, nəˈtɔl /
noun
-
a province in the E part of the Republic of South Africa. 35,284 sq. mi. (91,886 sq. km). Pietermaritzburg.
-
a seaport in E Brazil.
Natal
1
British
noun
-
a former province of E South Africa, between the Drakensberg and the Indian Ocean: set up as a republic by the Boers in 1838; became a British colony in 1843; joined South Africa in 1910; replaced by KwaZulu-Natal in 1994. Capital: Pietermaritzburg
-
a port in NE Brazil, capital of Rio Grande do Norte state, near the mouth of the Potengi River. Pop: 1 049 000 (2005 est)
natal
2
British
/ ˈneɪtəl /
adjective
-
of or relating to birth
-
a rare word for native
natal instincts
natal
3
British
/ ˈneɪtəl /
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of natal
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin nātālis “of or relating to birth,” from nāt(us) “an offspring” (variant of gnātus “born,” past participle of nāscī “to be born”) + -ālis -al 1; cf. nascent ( def. )
Explanation
Use the adjective natal to describe something that has to do with birth, like an adopted child's natal family, or birth parents. The word natal shows up a lot when doctors talk about birth and pregnancy, especially in "prenatal," which describes what happens before a baby is born. You can also use natal for things that occur at the same time as a birth, like the position of the stars on that day or the town in which a child is born — her natal city. In the fourteenth century, natal meant "pertaining to birthdays," from the Latin word natus, "to be born."
Vocabulary lists containing natal
"Bonne Annee," Vocabulary from the personal essay
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"Bonne Année" by Jean-Pierre Benoît
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
More generally, female dispersal and the tendency for males to remain in their natal group also constitute a predominant pattern among the great apes.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 7, 2026
In 1839 Lincoln served as a Fourth of July parade marshal in Springfield “in honor of Freedom’s natal day,” as one newspaper put it.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 1, 2026
Despite his injury, his natal pack welcomes him back, ensuring he eats his share and keeps up on hunts.
From BBC ● Nov. 3, 2025
Steelheads migrate to the ocean and return to their natal streams to spawn, while rainbows spend their lives in freshwater.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 22, 2025
The eyases grew their second, heavier coat of natal down when they were about fourteen days old.
From "Frightful's Mountain" by Jean Craighead George
She went on to become the first woman to establish a law practice in Natal Province in 1967, and later the first non-white woman to be appointed to the country's high court.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
In 1967, Pillay became the first woman to start a law practice in Natal Province, South Africa, beginning a decadeslong career in which she has presided over both criminal and civil cases.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
Domingues found the ideal embodiment of this complex character in Kaiony Venâncio, an actor from the city of Natal who had mostly worked in short films.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 24, 2026
Sunday’s rally coincided with that of the smaller opposition Inkatha Freedom Party, which has the populous KwaZulu Natal province as its stronghold and has committed to work with the main opposition.
From Seattle Times ● May 26, 2024
Led by Drs. Dadoo and G. M. Naicker, president of the Natal Indian Congress, the Indian community conducted a mass campaign that impressed us with its organization and dedication.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
