non-native

adjective

non-na·​tive ˌnän-ˈnā-tiv How to pronounce non-native (audio)
variants or nonnative
: not native: such as
a
of a plant or animal : living or growing in a place that is not the location of its natural occurrence
a non-native fish species
… overgrazing causes grasslands to give way to sagebrush, mesquite and non-native exotic grasses, environmentalists contend.Doug McInnis
b
: not born or raised in the place where a particular language is spoken
non-native inhabitants
a nonnative speaker of English [=a person who speaks English but whose native language is not English]
non-native noun
or nonnative
plural non-natives or nonnatives
popular among both natives and non-natives

Examples of non-native in a Sentence

nonnative customs that made the recent immigrants stand out in their new country
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This is especially useful for non-native speakers or those who want their resumes and cover letters to sound more professional. Caroline Castrillon, Forbes.com, 20 July 2025 In Greater Cincinnati, 16 schools have student populations with one-third or more non-native English speakers. Bebe Hodges, The Enquirer, 16 July 2025 But, understandably, non-natives often find hurricane season intimidating. Skye Sherman, Travel + Leisure, 15 July 2025 Introducing non-native wildlife is another way people can alter urban ecosystems and evolutionary processes. Elizabeth Carlen, The Conversation, 3 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for non-native

Word History

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of non-native was in 1845

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Cite this Entry

“Non-native.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/non-native. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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