- 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 <native to Wisconsin>3archaic : closely related4: belonging to or associated with one by birth5: natural, normal6 a: grown, produced, or originating in a particular place or in the vicinity : local b: living or growing naturally in a particular region : indigenous7: simple, unaffected8 a: constituting the original substance or source b: found in nature especially in an unadulterated form <mining native silver>9chiefly Australian : having a usually superficial resemblance to a specified English plant or animal10capitalized : 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>.
