Meaning & use
natural resources
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Meaning
nounplural
Materials and sources of energy found in nature, such as water, forests, minerals and oil, that people can use.
Grammar: Plural: the country's natural resources are rich; the singular natural resource is a single material.
Patterns
- rich in natural resources
- use natural resources
- protect natural resources
The country is rich in natural resources, including gold and timber.
Using natural resources carefully helps future generations.
Oil and coal are non-renewable natural resources.
Word forms
| singular | natural resource |
|---|
Common combinations
- rich in natural resources
- The region is rich in natural resources such as copper.
- conserve natural resources
- Schools can conserve natural resources by recycling.
- exploit natural resources
- Companies were accused of exploiting natural resources without paying locals.
- depletion of natural resources
- Scientists warn about the depletion of natural resources.
- renewable natural resources
- Wind and sunlight are renewable natural resources.
- manage natural resources
- The ministry manages natural resources like forests and rivers.
Synonyms and how they differ
- raw materials
- Raw materials emphasizes substances used in industry, while natural resources includes things like clean air and water too.
- assets
- Assets is a financial or business word and is broader, while natural resources is limited to nature.
- wealth
- Wealth means riches of any kind, but natural resources refers only to what comes from the land and sea.
- commodities
- Commodities are goods traded in markets, such as crude oil, whereas natural resources are the materials in nature itself.
Opposites
Word family
- natural adjective
- existing in nature, not made by people
- resource noun
- something useful that a person or group has
- renewable adjective
- able to be replaced naturally
- resourceful adjective
- good at finding solutions
Commonly confused: natural resources or human resources?
natural resources vs human resources
Human resources means a company's staff or the department that manages them, not materials from nature.
Practice
Which of these is a natural resource?
Choose one answer.
A freshwater river is found in nature and can be used. The other options are made by people or are financial.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “natural resources”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.