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

Russia's brown bear population has more than doubled since 1990, from around 130,000 to almost 308,000 in 2026, according to Russia's natural resources ministry. — CBS News, 8 Oct. 2026

Eel smuggling The panel also looked at the smuggling of baby eels, one of the most lucrative natural resources in Haiti, with one kilogram going for between $3,000 and $5,000 on the international market. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 7 Oct. 2026

The Soil & Water Board is a nonpartisan office dedicated to leading the conservation priorities of natural resources in the county. — Charlotte Observer, 6 Oct. 2026

The workforce is here, the natural resources are abundant, and university incubators keep producing the companies that need both. — Salena Zito, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1776, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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)