What Do You Call Someone Who Loves Nature?

It’s a beautiful world that we live in, and the stunning plants and splendid natural ecosystems on our planet make it all the more lovely. But is there a word for someone with a particular affinity for nature and the natural world?

In this article, we’ll provide 10 words, both popular and niche, that describe such a person.

Words for Someone Who Loves Nature

  • Biophile
  • Nemophilist
  • Tree-hugger
  • Nature enthusiast
  • Naturalist
  • Environmentalist
  • Ecofreak
  • Conservationist
  • Greenie
  • Outdoorsman

KEY TAKEAWAYS

  • A “biophile” is a person who feels a strong emotional connection to the natural world.
  • “Nemophilist” is a very rare word meaning a person who loves the forest.
  • “Tree-hugger” is an informal term for an environmental campaigner.

Keep reading! In the next section, we’ll discuss our chosen words for a person who loves nature in more detail.

Thereafter, we’ll provide some helpful example sentences using each of them.

Biophile

If you ever meet someone who loves to interact with nature, you could call them a “biophile.”

According to Merriam-Webster, “biophilia” is “a hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature: a desire or tendency to commune with nature.”

This word has Greek origins; “phila” means “the love of” and “bio” stems from the Greek word “bíos” meaning “life.” This also explains why the study of living organisms is called “biology.”

Therefore, “biophile” is a word to describe a person that feels a strong emotional attachment to the living world. For example, they may show a strong fondness for living organisms and flora and fauna.

In fact, many people who are involved in conservation activities may be biophiles who wish to restore and preserve the natural world on account of their strong emotional feelings for it.

Consider the examples below to see this term in action:

Matthew, a self-proclaimed biophile, has committed his life to restoring the ecosystems that have perished as a result of deforestation.

I would describe myself as a biophile, as I love to commune with nature and interact with the plants and animals I come across in my travels.

Nemophilist

In 2015, the Twitter page of the Oxford English Dictionary introduced the world to a very rare word for someone who loves nature.

“Nemophilist” is the word for “a person who loves or is fond of woods or forests.” Unfortunately, this word hasn’t been used commonly in over a hundred years, but that doesn’t mean it can’t make a comeback!

Obviously, nature encompasses more than just forests. However, when someone calls themselves a “nature-lover,” this usually denotes their love for hiking, walking, or camping in lush forest areas, so we’d say it counts!

Thus, if you’re looking for what to call someone who loves nature and calmness, or who absolutely loves camping and a walk in the woods, you can bring this word back into the mainstream by calling them a “nemophilist.”

Check out how we use this term in the example sentences below:

Roy was an avid nemophilist, so it surprised no one when he signed up to be a camp counselor after graduation.

This luxury cabin is the perfect holiday destination for a nemophilist.

Tree-hugger

Finally, an informal term for someone who loves nature is a “tree-hugger.”

According to the Cambridge Dictionary, the term “tree-hugger” is used in a humorous and disapproving way to describe “someone who is very interested in protecting the environment.”

This term comes from the practice of some communities and environmental campaigners who would wrap their arms around trees to prevent them from being chopped down.

People sometimes use this term in a derogatory way. After all, people who would benefit financially from the destruction of nature often decry environmentalists and opposing communities as silly and overly emotional.

However, many environmental activists use the term “tree-hugger” as a badge of honor. They argue that this term encapsulates their commitment to preservation and their extreme love for nature itself!

So, if you want to describe a nature-lover who loves to inconvenience big corporations with preservation campaigns, you can call them a “tree-hugger”!

Check out the following example sentences:

Shannon quit school to become a tree-hugger back in June and, frankly, I’ve never respected her more.

I’m a proud tree-hugger and I will never stop doing my part to protect the environment.