au naturel
English
Etymology
Borrowed from French au naturel (literally “in the natural”).
Pronunciation
Audio (General American): (file)
Adverb
au naturel (not comparable)
- Naturally.
- In the plainest or simplest manner.
- In the nude: in the naked state.
- Bella loved posing for the artist au naturel.
- Having untrimmed pubic hair (especially of women).
- 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.”
- 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?
- 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.
Related terms
French
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /o na.ty.ʁɛl/
Audio: (file)
Adverb
- naturally
- in the nude
- most simply, most plainly
- (food) without seasoning, flavouring or dressing
- thon au naturel -- tuna-fish in brine
- (heraldry) proper