From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishbe in the nature of somethingbe in the nature of somethingformal to be similar to a type of thing The enquiry will be more in the nature of a public meeting than a formal hearing. → nature
Examples from the Corpus
be in the nature of something• As you said, it is in the nature of young men to be foolhardy and impetuous.• It is in the nature of Forester's aim that he does not.• It is in the nature of the law, however, to be couched in abstract terms.• It was in the nature of love that John Wade went to the war.• It was in the nature of things, for time and tide would wait for no man.• It was in the nature of things.• It would be in the nature of a liaison visit.• But she knew Ellen would write and that the letter would be in the nature of both a declaration and a justification. 