Definition

Noun: 1. The inherent, ungoverned arrangement or progression of the physical universe: The concept that the universe and all things within it function according to inherent, discoverable laws, without the need for or influence of supernatural intervention or human control. It emphasizes a system governed by cause and effect. 2. The expected, fundamental sequence or state of things: The basic, default condition or progression of events as determined by natural laws, often contrasted with human-made or artificial arrangements.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • Scientists study the natural order to understand the principles of physics and biology.
  • The philosopher argued that morality should be derived from observing the natural order of the world.
  • After the storm passed, the forest slowly returned to its natural order.
  • Some believe that major technological intervention disrupts the natural order.

Advanced Usage

• "in the natural order of things": Used to describe what typically or inevitably happens according to the fundamental laws of nature or society.
  • In the natural order of things, predators hunt prey to survive.
• "restore/upset the natural order": Phrases used to describe returning something to its fundamental state or disrupting that fundamental state.
  • The conservation project aimed to restore the natural order of the wetland ecosystem.

Variants and Related Words

• Natural law (n): A body of unchanging moral principles regarded as a basis for all human conduct, often considered part of the natural order.
• Natural selection (n): A key process in evolution, often cited as a fundamental mechanism within the biological natural order.

Synonyms

• Course of nature: The ordinary way in which things happen in the world.
• The way of the world: The general nature of human life and society, often seen as inevitable.
• Natural scheme of things: The overall arrangement or system of the universe as governed by nature.

Idioms and Phrases

• "To go against the natural order": To act in a way that contradicts fundamental natural laws or principles.
  • Trying to live forever would be going against the natural order.

Noun

1. the physical universe considered as an orderly system subject to natural (not human or supernatural) laws