supernatural

CEFRB2

/ˌs(j)uː.pəˈnæ.tʃə.ɹəl/

adjective · noun

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Beyond what can be explained by nature or science.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    A supernatural being

Examples

  • The supernatural is the natural not yet understood.

  • He believes in the supernatural.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
2
Citations
3

Also pronounced

  • /-tʃɹəl/
  • /ˌs(j)ʉː.pəˈnɛ.tʃɹəl/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Not of the usual; not natural; altered by forces that are not understood fully, if at all.

  2. Above nature; beyond or added to nature, often so considered because it is given by a deity or some force beyond that with which humans are born.

noun

Extra meaning

  1. Supernatural beings and events collectively (when used with definite article: "the supernatural")

More examples

In context

  • In Roman Catholic theology, sanctifying grace is considered to be a supernatural addition to human nature.

  • Stephen King's first novel is about a girl named Carrie dealing with supernatural powers.

  • There exist supernatural beings.

Antonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The ghost was a blank being that could not be explained by science.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English supernatural, supernaturel, from Middle French supernaturel, from Latin supernātūrālis, from super (“above”) + nātūra (“nature; that which we are born with”), from nātus (“born”), perfect passive participle of nāscī (“to be born”) + adjective suffix -ālis. By surface analysis, super- + natural.