unnatürlich

Unnatürlich is a German adjective meaning not natural or contrary to nature. It describes things that appear artificial, deviate from what is expected in nature, or behave in a way that seems forced. The term can refer to physical traits, phenomena, or conduct, and it often carries a negative or critical nuance.

Etymology and form: Unnatürlich is formed from the prefix un- (negation) and natürlich (natural). The word is written as a single unit and uses the umlaut ü as in natürlich. Its noun form is Unnatürlichkeit, meaning unnaturalness.

Usage and nuance: In everyday language unnaturlich can describe appearances, actions, or events that seem contrived or outside the natural order. It is frequently used with a negative connotation, as in describing an exaggerated pose, an overly controlled behavior, or a situation that feels forced. Compared with synonyms like künstlich (artificial), unnaturlich emphasizes deviation from nature rather than simply artificial creation.

In science, philosophy, and aesthetics, unnaturlich appears in discussions about naturalness and artificiality, the boundary between natural and cultural influences, and critiques of processes or phenomena that seem to lack organic origin or spontaneity. The term can carry moral or evaluative undertones, depending on context.

See also: natural, artificial, künstlich, Natur, Unnatürlichkeit. Translations: the English equivalent is natural/unnatural, depending on context; the noun form is unnaturlichkeit (unnaturlichkeit in German).