natural resource

American  

noun

1. a naturally occurring source of wealth, as land or water.

2. natural resources, the natural wealth of a country, consisting of land, forests, mineral deposits, water, etc.

---

natural resource Scientific  

1. Something, such as a forest, a mineral deposit, or fresh water, that is found in nature and is necessary or useful to humans.

2. See more at nonrenewable renewable

---

Etymology

Origin of natural resource

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

The deglobalization trend has five main threads, according to Strategas: trade relations and supply chains, natural resources and the security thereof, defense spending and rearmament, technology alignment and IP sharing and populism.

From MarketWatch

“Only the people can build their own future, decide their path, exercise sovereignty over their natural resources, and freely define their form of government,” she said.

From Los Angeles Times

But in recent years, there has been increased interest in Greenland's natural resources, including mining for rare earth minerals, uranium and iron.

From BBC

China is gaining political leverage in the region by spending money on infrastructure projects and extracting critical minerals, energy and other natural resources.

From The Wall Street Journal

Japan, which has little in the way of natural resources, has long been anxious about its dependence on energy imports, concerns amplified by events such as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• raw material
• timber
• water