supernatural
gb/sˌupɚnˈæt͡ʃɚəl/ us/sˌupɚnˈæt͡ʃɚəl/
B2
English
~ 6000
Senses
0 senses
adjective
B2
property
1
caused by forces beyond nature
Not explained by nature or science; connected with powers, beings, or events that people believe are beyond the normal world.
Usage pattern:
supernatural [power/force/event/being]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse "supernatural" with "super" or "very natural". "Supernatural" always means beyond nature or science, often involving magic, spirits, or miracles, not "very" or "extremely" natural.
Synonyms
paranormal (Often used for unexplained experiences or phenomena, slightly more technical or media-related.)
|
otherworldly (Stresses being from another, non-normal world; can sound slightly more literary.)
Antonyms
natural (Describes things that follow normal physical laws and can be explained by science.)
|
scientific (Emphasizes being based on evidence, experiment, and natural laws, not mysterious powers.)
Collocations
supernatural powers
|supernatural forces
|supernatural beings
|supernatural abilities
|supernatural events
|supernatural world
Themes
religion
|beliefs
|fantasy
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The movie is about a girl with supernatural powers who can move objects with her mind.
- Many cultures have stories of supernatural beings such as ghosts and spirits.
- He dismissed the strange sound as wind, not anything supernatural.
- Some people visit psychics to ask about supernatural forces guiding their lives.
- The series mixes everyday life with supernatural events and dark magic.
Learner examples
- The hero uses supernatural powers to save the city.
- Do you believe in supernatural beings like ghosts?
- The book is full of supernatural events and magic.
- She says she has a supernatural gift and can see the future.
- The show is about a family that fights supernatural monsters.
Noun
B2
entity
2
realm or things beyond nature
The world of powers, spirits, and events that people believe are beyond nature and science.
Usage pattern:
believe in the supernatural
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes say "a supernatural" as a countable noun. In this meaning it is almost always used with "the": "the supernatural" refers to the whole realm, not a single thing.
Synonyms
the paranormal (Very close in meaning; often used in media or research about ghosts, UFOs, and unexplained events.)
|
the occult (Focuses more on hidden knowledge, magic, and secret practices, not all supernatural things in general.)
Antonyms
the natural world (Refers to physical reality that follows natural laws, in contrast to a separate supernatural realm.)
|
reality (Used when someone contrasts everyday, provable reality with imagined or believed supernatural realms.)
Collocations
the supernatural
|belief in the supernatural
|interest in the supernatural
|stories about the supernatural
|fear of the supernatural
Themes
religion
|beliefs
|philosophy
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- As a child, she was fascinated by the supernatural and read every ghost story she could find.
- The course looks at how different religions understand the supernatural.
- He claims to have had an experience with the supernatural while staying in the old castle.
- Some people reject the supernatural and only trust scientific explanations.
- Her paintings explore the border between everyday life and the supernatural.
Learner examples
- He does not believe in the supernatural.
- The film is about the supernatural, with ghosts and demons.
- She reads many books about the supernatural.
- Some people are afraid of the supernatural.
- The show mixes normal life with the supernatural.
Grammar
Dictionary form
supernatural
IPA
GB/sˌupɚnˈæt͡ʃɚəl/
US/sˌupɚnˈæt͡ʃɚəl/
Syllables & stress
su - per - nat - ur - al (5 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (per)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: supernatural
Noun
- Base: supernatural
Word family
Expressions
supernatural forces
1/sˌupɚnˈæt͡ʃɚəl fˈɔɹsɪz/
fixed phrase
unseen non-physical powers
Unseen powers, like spirits or magic, that people think can make things happen in ways science cannot explain.
Examples
- Some people believe supernatural forces are behind the strange accidents.
- The villagers blamed supernatural forces for the sudden illness in the town.
supernatural powers
1/sˌupɚnˈæt͡ʃɚəl pˈaʊɚz/
fixed phrase
extraordinary abilities beyond nature
Special abilities, like magic or mind reading, that people believe are not possible in the normal world.
Examples
- The hero has supernatural powers that allow him to control fire.
- Many comic book characters use their supernatural powers to fight evil.
the supernatural
1/ðə sˌupɚnˈæt͡ʃɚəl/
fixed phrase
the realm beyond natural laws
All powers, spirits, and events that people believe are beyond nature and science.
Examples
- The novel mixes everyday life with the supernatural.
- Her parents think stories about the supernatural are just fantasy.
- He became interested in the supernatural after a strange experience in an old house.