au naturel

English

Examples

A visual example co-exemplifying several senses (adverb sense 3, adjective sense 1, adverb sense 4, adjective sense 2, adverb sense 5, and adjective sense 3; warning: explicit).

Etymology

Borrowed from French au naturel (literally “in the natural”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /əʊ nætʃəˈɹɛl/
  • (General American) IPA(key): /oʊ nætʃɚˈɛl/
  • Audio (General American):(file)

Adverb

au naturel (not comparable)

  2. Naturally.
  4. In the plainest or simplest manner.
    Our chef insists on preparing this cut au naturel.
  6. In the nude: in the naked state.
    Bella loved posing for the artist au naturel.
  8. Having untrimmed pubic hair (especially of women).
  10. Without makeup and with one's natural hair color.
    • 2013, Laura Lascarso, Counting Backwards, Simon and Schuster, →ISBN, page 134:
      “Well, few of us are blessed with flawless complexions such as yours, so if you want to go au naturel, that's fine by me.”
    • 2014, Daryl Wood Gerber, Stirring the Plot, Penguin, →ISBN, page 121:
      Why did some women eschew makeup? It seemed to be a recent trend for her. Had her religious fiancé requested she go au naturel?

Adjective

au naturel (not comparable)

  2. In the nude: in the naked state.
    Bella was au naturel for that photo session.
  4. Having untrimmed pubic hair (especially of women).
    She prefers to keep things au naturel.
    • 2018, August McLaughlin, Girl Boner: The Good Girl's Guide to Sexual Empowerment, Amberjack Publishing, →ISBN:
      “There's nary a pubic hair in sight in most porn,” wrote Cindy Gallop in Make Love Not Porn, “which puts a whole lot of grooming pressure on women and is actually rather depressing for those men who like women au naturel.”
  6. Without makeup and with one's natural hair color.
    Synonym: all-natural
    This is my au naturel look. How do you like it?
    • 2024 October 3, Katie Berohn, Kathleen Hou, quoting Troy Surratt, “But Really, Is JD Vance Wearing Eyeliner?”, in Elle‎[1]:
      With his old-fashioned views on gender roles, I imagine that it would take an act of God for him to even agree to be patted down with a powder puff to avoid shine on camera. It is my belief that he is au naturel.

French

Pronunciation

Adverb

au naturel

  1. naturally
  2. in the nude
  3. most simply, most plainly
  4. (food) without seasoning, flavouring or dressing
    thon au naturel -- tuna-fish in brine
  5. (heraldry) proper
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