supernatural
Americanadjective
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of, relating to, or being above or beyond what is natural; unexplainable by natural law or phenomena; abnormal.
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of, pertaining to, characteristic of, or attributed to God or a deity.
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of a superlative degree; preternatural.
a missile of supernatural speed.
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of, relating to, or attributed to ghosts, goblins, or other unearthly beings; eerie; occult.
noun
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a being, place, object, occurrence, etc., considered as supernatural or of supernatural origin; that which is supernatural, or outside the natural order.
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behavior supposedly caused by the intervention of supernatural beings.
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direct influence or action of a deity on earthly affairs.
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the supernatural,
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supernatural beings, behavior, and occurrences collectively.
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supernatural forces and the supernatural plane of existence.
a deep fear of the supernatural.
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adjective
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of or relating to things that cannot be explained according to natural laws
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characteristic of or caused by or as if by a god; miraculous
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of, involving, or ascribed to occult beings
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exceeding the ordinary; abnormal
noun
Related Words
See miraculous.
Other Word Forms
- antisupernatural adjective
- semisupernatural adjective
- semisupernaturally adverb
- semisupernaturalness noun
- supernaturally adverb
- supernaturalness noun
- unsupernatural adjective
- unsupernaturally adverb
- unsupernaturalness noun
Etymology
Origin of supernatural
From the Medieval Latin word supernātūrālis, dating back to 1520–30. See super-, natural
Explanation
If you enjoy a good story about vampires, witches, werewolves, or ghosts, you like reading about the supernatural — forces, beings, and events that are beyond what can be explained by nature. Supernatural comes from the Latin word supernaturalis, meaning beyond nature. The adjective form of supernatural describes anything that pertains to or is caused by something that can't be explained by the laws of nature. It's interesting to ask your friends what kind of supernatural power they would choose to have. Most will probably wish for the ability to fly, though some will pick the supernatural power of being invisible.
Vocabulary lists containing supernatural
The Grim Reader: Wicked Words of Grave Importance for Halloween
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Friday the 13th
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100 SAT words Beginning with "S"
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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.
Expedition 33 is set in a world where a supernatural being known as The Paintress prevents the population from growing past a certain age.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2026
Fans also expressed grief online, remembering Xander as the heart of the group, a character whose vulnerability and humor made him relatable in a world of supernatural extremes.
From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026
"Sinners," the tale of gangster twins returning home to a supernatural and segregated Deep South in the 1930s, has already made Academy Awards history with its whopping 16 nominations.
From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026
She refuses to admit that the supernatural is real, even as she repeatedly takes a break to steady herself and, as she puts it, “get back into character.”
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 11, 2026
Director Van Helsing says, “You may either display your supernatural ability first and announce what it is to the spectators later or vice versa. It’s your choice.”
From "Amari and the Night Brothers" by B.B. Alston
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.
