natural resource

noun

1
natural resources plural : industrial materials and capacities (such as mineral deposits and waterpower) supplied by nature
2
: resource sense 1b

Examples of natural resource in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As more and more people flock to the parks, overcrowding has begun to cause harm to the land’s natural resources, disrupting the delicately balanced ecosystem that makes the place so special. — Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Aug. 2026 Fragile countries typically possess a wealth of natural resources and receive huge diaspora remittances. — Eghosa E. Osaghae, Foreign Affairs, 11 Aug. 2026 The idea of pooling natural resources to prevent another war between major European powers, especially Germany and France, had been championed at the end of the First World War by a French politician named Étienne Clémentel. — Ian Buruma, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026 Tanzania and Uganda signed an agreement with Vitol, the world’s largest independent oil trader, to develop Tanga Port into a regional energy hub as the continent works to capture more value from its natural resources. — Preeti Jha, semafor.com, 10 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for natural resource

Word History

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of natural resource was in 1776

Browse Nearby Words

natural resin
natural resource
natural rubber
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Natural resource.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/natural%20resource. Accessed 14 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

natural resource

noun
: something (as a mineral, waterpower source, forest, or kind of animal) that is found in nature and is valuable to humans (as in providing a source of energy, recreation, or scenic beauty)

More from Merriam-Webster on natural resource

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about natural resource

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