nativism

1 of 3

noun (1)

na·​tiv·​ism ˈnā-ti-ˌvi-zəm 

1

: a policy of favoring native inhabitants as opposed to immigrants

2

: the revival or perpetuation of an Indigenous culture especially in opposition to acculturation

nativist

ˈnā-ti-vist 

noun or adjective

nativistic

ˌnā-ti-ˈvi-stik 

adjective

nativist

2 of 3

noun (2)

na·​tiv·​ist -və̇st 

plural -s

: one who believes in or advocates nativism

a bigoted nativist who published feverish anti-immigration and anti-Catholic tracts

—Marshall Davidson

nativist

3 of 3

adjective

"

1

: of, having the characteristics of, or supporting political nativism

the die-hard Know-Nothings … were both nativist and proslavery

—M. M. Hunt

old nativist prejudice against the … foreign businessman

—Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican

2

: of, relating to, or composed of nativists

nativist rural audiences in the south

—W. G. Carleton

Examples of nativism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Advertisement The journalists Crystal Eastman and Randolph Bourne argued similarly amid the nativism and nationalism of the First World War, a time not unlike our own. — Dominic Erdozain, Time, 3 July 2026

The party’s rhetoric, which includes nativism and calling to move on from the shadow of the Holocaust, has ignited allegations of antisemitism from leading Jewish voices in Germany, even as the party and its defenders say its policies are ideal to keep Jews safe. — Toby Axelrod, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026

Perhaps the cleanest rebuke of noisy nativism would be for England to win, and, if Tuchel can take that final step that eluded Southgate, he’ll be immortalized, too—perhaps in a prestige miniseries of his own, and a more straightforwardly triumphal one at that. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 18 June 2026

At the same time, the resolution calls for humane immigration policies that uphold justice and mercy, strongly rejecting nativism, discrimination and racial or ethnic hostility. — Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

native entry 1 + -ist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nativism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• sophism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism