native

1 of 2

adjective

na·​tive ˈnā-tiv How to pronounce native (audio)
1
: inborn, innate
native talents
2
: belonging to a particular place by birth
a native New Yorker
3
archaic : closely related
4
: belonging to or associated with one by birth
hailed in his native Sweden as an influential dramatistWilliam Peden
5
: natural, normal
a generosity that was native to him
6
a
: grown, produced, or originating in a particular place or in the vicinity : local
native fruits and vegetables
b
: living or growing naturally in a particular region : indigenous
native wildlife of Australia
7
: simple, unaffected
our feeling still native and entire, unsophisticated by pedantryEdmund Burke
8
a
: constituting the original substance or source
the way I must return to native dustJohn Milton
b
: found in nature especially in an unadulterated form
mining native silver
9
chiefly Australia : having a usually superficial (see superficial sense 2) resemblance to a specified English plant or animal
10
capitalized : of, relating to, or being a member of an indigenous people of North or South America : native american
natively adverb
nativeness noun

native

2 of 2

noun

1
: one born or reared in a particular place
2
a
: an original or indigenous inhabitant
b
: something indigenous to a particular locality
3
: a local resident
especially : a person who has always lived in a place as distinguished from a visitor or a temporary resident
Choose the Right Synonym for native

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 that which is not only native but which, as far as can be determined, has never been introduced or brought from elsewhere.

indigenous plants

endemic implies being peculiar to a region.

a disease endemic in Africa

aboriginal implies having no known others preceding in occupancy of a particular region.

the aboriginal peoples of Australia

Examples of native in a Sentence

Adjective people who are native to France She has a native ability to learn quickly. The island is home to several native species of trees. Noun She's a native of France who moved to the United States when she was 15. He wishes he could speak Spanish like a native. The plant is a native of Central and South America.
Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
An intimate family drama mixed with elements of psychological drama, said Corral, it is set in Ruíz de Alauda’s lush native Basque Country. John Hopewell, Variety, 20 Mar. 2024 Local and native seeds are important because of their regional adaptation and previous success. Tamara Yakaboski, The Denver Post, 20 Mar. 2024 The Philadelphia Eagles quarterback and Houston native, 25, has pledged to pay for the funeral expenses of Jarvon Coles, according to NFL.com reporter Ian Rapoport. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 19 Mar. 2024 Designers Marilee Kuhlmann, Tom Rau and Johanna Woollcott will be on hand to discuss the 2-acre project, which includes water harvesting, fire prevention, fruit trees, a vegetable garden, native and water-wise plants and a succulent garden. Jeanette Marantos, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2024 This created the perfect environment for invasive freshwater weeds and drove out much of the native wildlife. Bianca Nogrady, WIRED, 19 Mar. 2024 In Mississippi, there is the Civil Rights Museum in Jackson and the B.B. King Museum in the Blues legend's native Indianola. Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2024 This was enforced so heavily that students and teachers would be reprimanded for speaking in their native language. Amanda Luberto, The Arizona Republic, 18 Mar. 2024 But that’s just a small glimpse into a man seen as a sports hero in America and as a god in his native Puerto Rico. Stephen Rodrick, Variety, 8 Mar. 2024
Noun
Her client, a native of Rio, asked her to create an oasis within the concrete city. Michael Snyder Pedro Kok, New York Times, 22 Mar. 2024 Fletcher, who was born in Memphis and who is a native of Paragould, was an elementary school principal in the Bald Knob district from 2019-2021 and a teacher in the Farmington School District from 2006-2019. Danny Shameer, arkansasonline.com, 22 Mar. 2024 Miller grew up in the state, while Slater — a Florida native — traveled there often for surf contests and related business. Skyler Caruso, Peoplemag, 20 Mar. 2024 Republican challenger Bresnahan, a fifth-generation native of Luzerne County and CEO of Kuharchik Construction, is anticipated to face Cartwright in the general election on Nov. 5. Emma Colton, Fox News, 18 Mar. 2024 The London native died Saturday during a fly-fishing trip in New Zealand, his manager, Jeff Aghassi, told The Hollywood Reporter. Zoe G Phillips, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 Mar. 2024 With the Lakers needing one last stop, Spencer Dinwiddie, the Angeleno native making his first start for the team (in James’ place), smothered Lillard and blocked a potential game-winner in the final seconds, securing an emotional 123-122 win. Dan Woike, Los Angeles Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Prior to starring in the new horror flick Imaginary, the Massachusetts native played Predator in the thriller Prey, the demon Ba’al in an episode of American Horror Stories as well as a character called Muscle Monster on the Netflix series Sweet Home. Eric Andersson, Peoplemag, 9 Mar. 2024 Jessica Wittner is a California native who graduated with a bachelor's in aerospace engineering from the University of Arizona and a master's in aerospace engineering from the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Marcus Reichley, The Arizona Republic, 8 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'native.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective and Noun

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

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of native was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near native

Cite this Entry

“Native.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/native. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

native

1 of 2 adjective
na·​tive ˈnāt-iv How to pronounce native (audio)
1
: inborn sense 1, natural
native ability
2
: born in a particular place or country
native Hawaiians
3
: belonging to one because of the place or circumstances of one's birth
my native language
4
a
: grown, produced, or having its beginning in a particular region
native art
native stone
b
: living or growing naturally in a particular region
native plants
5
: found in nature especially in a pure form : not artificially prepared
native salt
6
capitalized : of, relating to, or being a member of an indigenous people of North or South America : native american
natively adverb

native

2 of 2 noun
1
: one born or raised in a particular place
a native of Milwaukee
2
: one of a people living in a place before the arrival of foreigners
3
: something native to or produced in a locality
Etymology

Adjective

Middle English natif "native," from early French natif (same meaning), from Latin nativus (same meaning), from natus, past participle of nasci "to be born" — related to innate, naive, nature

Medical Definition

native

adjective
na·​tive ˈnāt-iv How to pronounce native (audio)
1
: belonging to or associated with one by birth
2
: living or growing naturally in a particular region
3
a
: constituting the original substance or source
b
: found in nature especially in an unadulterated form
conversion of a native protein to a denatured protein
natively adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on native

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