What does unnaturalness mean?
Unnaturalness names the quality of something being artificial, forced, strange, or contrary to ordinary expectations. It is commonly used to describe behaviour, speech, performance, and social situations that seem slightly affected or out of place. For example, a speaker's unnaturalness may be noticeable in a stiff gesture or an overly formal choice of words, while the unnaturalness of an event may lie in an awkward arrangement or an implausible decision. The word can be mildly critical, but it often expresses observation rather than outright condemnation. In literary analysis and discussion of performance, it can also identify an apparently false or strained quality. Although the plural unnaturalnesses exists, the noun is usually uncountable, especially when referring to a general quality.
nounThe quality of being unnatural, especially when behaviour, speech, or an arrangement seems artificial, forced, or contrary to normal expectations.
- The quality of being artificial, forced, affected, or contrary to ordinary behaviour or expectations.
- The quality of a situation, arrangement, or event seeming strange, abnormal, or implausible.
"There was a slight unnaturalness in her voice whenever she discussed the wedding."
"Her nervousness gave the performance an unnaturalness that the audience immediately noticed."
"The unnaturalness of the decision made it difficult for the committee to explain its reasoning."
The plural is grammatically possible but rarely used; singular uncountable use is more natural.
"The novel examines several different kinds of unnaturalness in social life."
Unnaturalness is often felt before it is named: a pause, a gesture, or a carefully chosen phrase can make a situation feel subtly off.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does unnaturalness come from?
Unnaturalness was formed in English by adding the noun-forming suffix -ness to unnatural, itself built from the prefix un- and natural. Natural comes through Old French from Latin naturalis, a derivative of natura, which is associated with the Latin verb nasci, meaning “to be born.” The resulting compound follows the English pattern of forming an abstract noun from an adjective, and the same Latin root also lies behind words such as nature and naturalize.
How unnaturalness is actually used
Usually neutral or mildly critical. When describing speech, behaviour, or performance, it can suggest affectation or excessive self-consciousness; when describing a situation, it often means that something appears strange or poorly designed. The noun is normally used uncountably.
Easily confused with unnaturalness
Unnatural is the adjective describing something that is artificial or contrary to nature, whereas unnaturalness is the noun naming that quality.