Main Entry: ¹na·tive

Pronunciation: \ˈnā-tiv\

Function: adjective

Etymology: Middle English natif, from Middle French, from Latin nativus, from natus, past participle of nasci to be born — more at nation

Date: 14th century

1 : inborn, innate <native talents>
2 : belonging to a particular place by birth
3 archaic : closely related
4 : belonging to or associated with one by birth
5 : natural, normal
6 a : grown, produced, or originating in a particular place or in the vicinity : local b : living or growing naturally in a particular region : indigenous
7 : simple, unaffected
8 a : constituting the original substance or source b : found in nature especially in an unadulterated form <mining native silver>
9 chiefly Australian : having a usually superficial resemblance to a specified English plant or animal
10 capitalized : of, relating to, or being a member of an aboriginal people of North or South America : native american

— na·tive·ly adverb

— na·tive·ness noun

synonyms native, indigenous, endemic, aboriginal mean belonging to a locality. native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it <native tribal customs>. indigenous applies to species or races and adds to native the implication of not having been introduced from elsewhere <maize is indigenous to America>. endemic implies being peculiar to a region <edelweiss is endemic in the Alps>. aboriginal implies having no known race preceding in occupancy of the region <the aboriginal peoples of Australia>.