supernatural

[ soo-per-nach-er-uh l, -nach-ruh l ]

/ ˌsu pərˈnætʃ ər əl, -ˈnætʃ rəl /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR supernatural ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of, relating to, or being above or beyond what is natural; unexplainable by natural law or phenomena; abnormal.

of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or attributed to God or a deity.

of a superlative degree; preternatural: a missile of supernatural speed.

of, relating to, or attributed to ghosts, goblins, or other unearthly beings; eerie; occult.

noun

a being, place, object, occurrence, etc., considered as supernatural or of supernatural origin; that which is supernatural, or outside the natural order.

behavior supposedly caused by the intervention of supernatural beings.

direct influence or action of a deity on earthly affairs.

the supernatural,

supernatural beings, behavior, and occurrences collectively.
supernatural forces and the supernatural plane of existence: a deep fear of the supernatural.

Nearby words

Origin of supernatural

From the Medieval Latin word supernātūrālis, dating back to 1520–30. See super-, natural

SYNONYMS FOR supernatural

1. See miraculous.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR supernatural ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

su·per·nat·u·ral·ly, adverbsu·per·nat·u·ral·ness, nounan·ti·su·per·nat·ur·al, adjective, nounsem·i·su·per·nat·u·ral, adjective

sem·i·su·per·nat·u·ral·ly, adverbsem·i·su·per·nat·u·ral·ness, nounun·su·per·nat·u·ral, adjectiveun·su·per·nat·u·ral·ly, adverbun·su·per·nat·u·ral·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for supernatural

Although Korra looks at PTSD and assault with supernatural grandiosity, fans were quick to pick up on it in some forums.
Science-Fiction TV Finds a New Muse: Feminism|David Levesley|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On TripAdvisor, visitors gush about the tour and the supernatural experiences encountered during their stay.
Would You Stay in Lizzie Borden’s Ax-Murder House?|Nina Strochlic|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is clear Hitchens had no use for the supernatural or spiritual, but his alternative to religion was not merely scientific.
Cornel West’s Disappointing Decline|David Masciotra|October 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was identified as an ancient exorcism technique that indicated she had been suspected of supernatural powers.
Bulgaria’s Vampire Graveyards|Nina Strochlic|October 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Many of my soldiers began to treat bracelets, pictures, bibles and video games as if they had supernatural powers.
There Are Only Atheists in Fox Holes|Michael Carson|October 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Distraction gave him supernatural strength, and her weight seemed that of a child.
Recreations of Christopher North, Volume I (of 2)|John Wilson
Indeed, some of his inventions have been so wonderful that he might be accredited with supernatural powers.
Hidden Treasures|Harry A. Lewis
The quaint ideas associated in mythology with the supernatural generation here referred to have been various.
Ancient Faiths And Modern|Thomas Inman
Even his handling of the supernatural, which was undoubtedly a strong point of his, was not wholly de ban aloi.
The English Novel|George Saintsbury
These are above our present definition of Nature, and therefore to us supernatural or miraculous.
Evolution|Joseph Le Conte

British Dictionary definitions for supernatural

supernatural

/ (ˌsuːpəˈnætʃrəl, -ˈnætʃərəl) /

adjective

of or relating to things that cannot be explained according to natural laws

characteristic of or caused by or as if by a god; miraculous

of, involving, or ascribed to occult beings

exceeding the ordinary; abnormal

noun

the supernatural supernatural forces, occurrences, and beings collectively or their realm

Derived Formssupernaturally, adverbsupernaturalness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for supernatural

supernatural

adj.

early 15c. "above nature, transcending nature, belonging to a higher realm," from Medieval Latin supernaturalis "above or beyond nature," from Latin super "above" (see super-) + natura "nature" (see nature). Originally with more of a religious sense, "of or given by God, divine; heavenly;" association with ghosts, etc., has predominated since c.1799.

supernatural

1580s, from supernatural (adj.).

supernatural

adjective

noun

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Origin of supernatural

Examples from the Web for supernatural

supernatural

adjective

noun

supernatural

supernatural