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

/ -tʃərə-; ˌnætʃrəˈlɪstɪk /

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

Derived Forms

• ˌnaturalˈistically, adverb

Other Words From

• natu·ral·isti·cal·ly adverb
• anti·natu·ral·istic adjective
• nonnat·u·ral·istic adjective
• unnat·u·ral·istic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of naturalistic¹

First recorded in 1830–40; natural + -istic

Example Sentences

The report, titled “A model for naturalistic glance behavior around Tesla Autopilot disengagements,” has been following Tesla Model S and X owners during their daily routine for periods of a year or more throughout the greater Boston area.

From TechCrunch

It could be a hybrid literary genre, Lawrence demonstrated, one that seamlessly mixes closely observed, naturalistic details with the kind of inward reflections found in essays and memoirs.

From Washington Post

If you want a more naturalistic sound, it might be worth looking at condenser mics.

From Popular-Science

So video scenarios that we filmed with professional paid actors in naturalistic settings based on data from police-citizen interactions.

From Freakonomics

Because that would be sort of a naturalistic way to see whether having had this treatment really makes it easier for them to understand and cope with what’s going on.

From Freakonomics

He said many of them had trouble making the transition from stage realism to the more naturalistic demands of the screen.

From The Daily Beast

He [Olivier] filled the screen quite easily and still remained naturalistic.

From The Daily Beast

It was more about the way art looked: it should be as naturalistic as possible, and be made by Teutonic or Scandinavian artists.

From The Daily Beast

The Immigrant is far from a conventionally naturalistic historical film.

From The Daily Beast

Willimon cannily structures the episodes of House of Cards in a more naturalistic fashion than traditional television.

From The Daily Beast

And the colour, too, like the drawing, is of a naturalistic strength to which he never again attained.

From Project Gutenberg

Perhaps it was Plutarch's naturalistic theory of imitation in poetry which led him to compare poetry with painting.

From Project Gutenberg

Orthodox Christians earnestly contend that this naturalistic doctrine makes for immorality.

From Project Gutenberg

Thought is not made free by the mere substitution of naturalistic for theological dogma.

From Project Gutenberg

Chinese design shows naturalistic art arrested and perpetuated on totally different principles.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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