natural philosophy

American  

noun

1. natural science.

2. physical science.

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natural philosophy British  

noun

1. (now only used in Scottish universities) physical science, esp physics

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Other Word Forms

• natural philosopher noun

Etymology

Origin of natural philosophy

late Middle English word dating back to 1425–75

Example Sentences

Zoe Kurland: John Tyndall was working as a professor of natural philosophy at The Royal Institution in London, publishing research in European journals.

From Scientific American

There, daily Bible study shared a dense curriculum with history, geography, mathematics, natural philosophy, Greek, Latin, music and rhetoric.

From New York Times

Those of his successors in each branch of natural philosophy with whom I was acquainted appeared even to my boy’s apprehensions as tyros engaged in the same pursuit.

From Literature

For ancient and early modern thinkers, medicine was not wholly distinct from theology or natural philosophy: an imbalance in the physical body or environment troubled the soul and vice versa.

From New York Times

Although styled professor of mathematics, his brief included what we would now call physics and was then called natural philosophy.

From Literature