natural science

American  

noun

1. a science or knowledge of objects or processes observable in nature, as biology or physics, as distinguished from the abstract or theoretical sciences, as mathematics or philosophy.

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natural science British  

noun

1. the sciences collectively that are involved in the study of the physical world and its phenomena, including biology, physics, chemistry, and geology, but excluding social sciences, abstract or theoretical sciences, such as mathematics, and applied sciences

2. any one of these sciences

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natural science Scientific  

1. A science, such as biology, chemistry, or physics, that deals with the objects, phenomena, or laws of nature and the physical world.

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Other Word Forms

• natural scientist noun

Etymology

Origin of natural science

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

A falconer captivated by the natural sciences, he once considered becoming a wildlife illustrator.

From The Wall Street Journal

Students attempt about 200 questions across various subjects, which include Korean, maths, English, social and natural sciences, among others.

From BBC

Their work demonstrates how historical accounts can be validated and violent deaths reconstructed in remarkable detail when the humanities and natural sciences collaborate.

From Science Daily

The Oakland Museum of California is home to more than 2 million objects dedicated to telling the story of California through collections of art, history and natural science.

From Los Angeles Times

Do liberal arts schools present students with a core curriculum that expects them to master foundational subjects like economics, a foreign language, composition and natural sciences?

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• biology
• physics