preternatural
Americanadjective
-
out of the ordinary course of nature; exceptional or abnormal.
preternatural powers.
- Synonyms:
- unnatural, extraordinary, unusual
-
outside of nature; supernatural.
adjective
-
beyond what is ordinarily found in nature; abnormal
-
another word for supernatural
Related Words
See miraculous.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of preternatural
First recorded in 1570–80; from Medieval Latin praeternātūrālis, adjective based on Latin phrase praeter nātūram “beyond nature”; see preter-, natural
Explanation
Preternatural describes something that seems oddly abnormal and out of sync with everything else. If you hear a preternatural dog's barking, maybe it sounds like a police siren instead of a howl. Note that preternatural contains the word natural. Preter comes from the Latin word praeter which means "beyond"; so something preternatural is beyond nature. It is less commonly used than unnatural or supernatural but means the same thing. If you lift a truck off the ground and hold it above your head, people will marvel at you and say you have preternatural strength.
Vocabulary lists containing preternatural
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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.
Coming of age in this seamy milieu has given him a cynical worldview and a preternatural calm.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026
That commitment wouldn’t be possible if the music didn’t have a preternatural force to speak to current anxieties.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 27, 2026
In addition to preternatural skill, you need icewater in your veins to do that.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 8, 2025
Even with preternatural patience, most of the time, you should expect no progress.
From Slate • Dec. 5, 2025
With some preternatural craftiness he always knew the right nerve to touch, at exactly the right moment, to wound and outrage most.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
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.
