Unatural vs. Unnatural: The Correct Spellings

Navigating between "unatural" and "unnatural," it's essential to identify "unnatural" as the correct spelling in the English language. "Unnatural" means not in accordance with or deviating from what is natural or expected. In contrast, "unatural" is a misspelled version of the term.

The word "unnatural" can be broken down into the prefix "un-" (meaning not) and "natural." The etymology of "unnatural" is rooted in the late Middle Ages, emphasizing things not in accordance with nature. Some related forms of the word "unnatural" are "unnaturally," the adverb, and "unnaturalness," the noun.

To remember the spelling of "unnatural," you can think of combining the opposite prefix "un-" with the word "natural." Recalling that "natural" has two 'n's at the start will ensure you always spell "unnatural" correctly.

Incorrect: Unatural colors in the sky suggest pollution.

Correct: Unnatural colors in the sky suggest pollution.

Incorrect: His behavior was quite unatural for someone so young.

Correct: His behavior was quite unnatural for someone so young.

Incorrect: She felt an unatural chill down her spine.

Correct: She felt an unnatural chill down her spine.

Incorrect: The silence in the forest was unatural.

Correct: The silence in the forest was unnatural.

Contrary to the ordinary course of nature; abnormal.

Affected or artificial in manner or appearance; forced.

Not in accordance with established habits or customs.

Not existing in nature or not produced by natural forces.

Lacking human qualities or sympathies; monstrous or inhuman.

Not in accordance with what usually occurs in nature

Not included in nature; artificial

Deviating from a behavioral or social norm

Brutal or unfeeling

Stilted, affected, or awkward

Not natural.

Not occurring in nature, the environment or atmosphere

Going against nature; perverse.

Not natural; contrary, or not conforming, to the order of nature; being without natural traits; as, unnatural crimes.

not in accordance with or determined by nature; contrary to nature;

speaking or behaving in an artificial way to make an impression

distorted and unnatural in shape or size; abnormal and hideous;

Using chemicals can cause fruits to ripen in an unnatural way.

His laugh sounded forced and unnatural.

The way the doll's eyes opened was unnatural.

She had an unnatural obsession with collecting rocks.

There was an unnatural calm before the storm hit.

It's unnatural for a cat to refuse fish.

The brightness of the neon lights gave the room an unnatural feel.

The glowing water looked unnatural in the moonlight.

His sudden kindness to me felt unnatural.

There was something unnatural about the silence in the abandoned house.

It’s unnatural for a child to be so quiet.

The way the tree bent in the wind was almost unnatural.

There’s an unnatural tint to the lake water due to pollution.

It’s unnatural for this river to dry up in the summer.

The actors' dialogue in the movie sounded unnatural.

Using so much technology all day feels unnatural to me.

He had an unnatural ability to predict events before they happened.

The food coloring gave the cake an unnatural hue.

It felt unnatural to be awake at such an early hour.

The computer-generated effects in the film were amazingly unnatural.

The quiet in the city streets was unnatural and eerie.

His constant smiling was unnatural and unsettling.

A partnership or alliance that seems odd or unnatural.

A silence that is eerily quiet or unsettling.

Think of adding the opposite prefix "un-" to the word "natural" and remember that "natural" has two 'n's at the start.

The prefix "un-" denotes the opposite or negative, so "unnatural" implies the opposite of what is natural.

No, the correct spelling is "unnatural." "Unatural" is a common misspelling.

Yes, related forms include "unnaturally," an adverb, and "unnaturalness," a noun.

The term "unnatural" has its origins in the late Middle Ages and is used to describe things not in accordance with nature.

Yes, "unnatural" is versatile and can describe anything from behavior and appearance to phenomena that deviate from what's expected.

"Unnatural" often conveys a deviation from the norm, something not in accordance with nature, or a forced, artificial quality.

"Unnatural" often refers to something that's not typical, expected, or in line with nature.

While "unnatural" typically has a negative connotation, it can be neutral or positive depending on context, like "an unnatural ability" implying an extraordinary talent.

Yes, since synthetic materials aren't produced by natural processes, they can be described as "unnatural."