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natural state

natural state

10 4.1
The condition of land, water, or wildlife left unchanged by people
  • noun
translation icon : estado natural
  • Others are simply opportunity costs: the foregone economic benefits of leaving land in its natural state instead of developing it.
  • ecosystems in their natural state
  • culture in its natural state
  • still in a natural state

So basically all we're doing when we in effect, not in effect, when we cause climate change, all we're doing is returning the Earth to its natural state, right?

Examples

  • Is this not your natural state?

  • Restoring nature to its natural state is a cause beyond party and beyond factions.

    Blog text (6)
  • You know, try to see them in their natural state.

  • The land was cleared and is being returned to its natural state as part of Fish Park.

    Blog text (32)
  • Instead, I will focus on laws designed to protect wetlands, woodlands, and species habitats in a natural state.

    Academic text (2004)
  • These are gum Arabic rocks in their natural state from the SAP of the Acacia tree.

  • The ribs have been sawed off, allowing us to remove the breastplate and really observe the human organs... as they exist in their natural state.

  • Behind him, the artist depicts a fictitious, idealized wilderness in order to portray his subject in his natural state.

    Academic text (2008)
  • Eating fruits and vegetables in their natural state means consuming them without any processing or additives.

  • To truly appreciate the beauty of the forest, you must see it in its natural state, untouched by human hands.

Synonyms

state of nature
vsnatural state
  • Specialized
3 8.1

A natural wild condition before people build towns or make rules

refers to a condition in nature unaltered or untouched by human activity

Antonyms

89 3.7

Advanced in social, cultural and technological development with order and refinement

Made by people rather than happening naturally

How Natural

natural state
10 4.1

Surface Forms

natural state singular

Morphology

natural + state

The meaning 'a condition existing in nature' is directly and compositionally derived from 'natural' (produced by nature) + 'state' (condition), so a learner who knows both words can infer the phrase meaning. This is a common, cross-linguistically transparent noun phrase pattern and thus easily predictable for a B1 learner.

Etymology

The phrase natural state paints a simple picture: something left exactly as natural made it, the state or condition it is in without people changing it. That's why it means 'a condition existing in nature, unaltered or untouched by people'.