innate

adjective

in·​nate i-ˈnāt How to pronounce innate (audio)
ˈi-ˌnāt
1
: existing in, belonging to, or determined by factors present in an individual from birth : native, inborn
innate behavior
2
: belonging to the essential nature of something : inherent
3
: originating in or derived from the mind or the constitution of the intellect rather than from experience
innately adverb
innateness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for innate

innate, inborn, inbred, congenital, hereditary mean not acquired after birth.

innate applies to qualities or characteristics that are part of one's inner essential nature.

an innate sense of fair play

inborn suggests a quality or tendency either actually present at birth or so marked and deep-seated as to seem so.

her inborn love of nature

inbred suggests something either acquired from parents by heredity or so deeply rooted and ingrained as to seem acquired in that way.

inbred political loyalties

congenital and hereditary refer to what is acquired before or at birth, the former to things acquired during fetal development and the latter to things transmitted from one's ancestors.

a congenital heart murmur
eye color is hereditary

Examples of innate in a Sentence

… the delays innate in both serial and book publication … Walter Rundell, American Association of University Professors Bulletin, September 1971
… the materials for conflict are innate to social life. Richard Sennett, Psychology Today, November 1970
The faculty for myth is innate in the human race. W. Somerset Maugham, The Moon and Sixpence, 1919
She has an innate sense of rhythm. the innate problems of wireless communication
Recent Examples on the Web Yet one of the immediately noticeable qualities of 25-year-old Matteo Bocelli is an innate serenity, a perfect emanation of those polite manners that contributed to making his father Andrea Bocelli an icon of music and style famous in Italy and around the world. Billboard Italy, Billboard, 22 Sep. 2023 The study focuses only on the genetics of innate immunity (the immediate immune response to infected cells), says Tony Schountz, a professor at the Center of Vector-Borne Infectious Diseases at Colorado State University, who was not involved in the study. Popular Science, 21 Sep. 2023 If the mouse songs were innate, as long presumed, the surgical alteration would make no difference at all. Sonia Shah, New York Times, 20 Sep. 2023 Mabrey and Copper hold the potential to form a dangerous combination due to their similarities: tenacity, toughness and an innate ability to score. Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2023 Such bias is largely unconscious, Rometty tells me, and attributable to years—nay, decades—in which four-year degrees have been heralded as the market requirement, suggesting some innate value for an organization. Ruth Umoh, Fortune, 13 Sep. 2023 Also, there is Isaacson’s innate fascination with technology. Margot Roosevelt, Los Angeles Times, 12 Sep. 2023 This, unfortunately, is an inevitable symptom of humanity’s innate duality because where there are people, there are problems — but there are also solutions. Morena Duwe, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2023 Pig tissue is swiftly rejected by the human immune system, and pigs also harbor innate viruses that could be passed on to transplant patients. Emily Mullin, WIRED, 8 Sep. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'innate.' 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

Middle English innat, from Latin innatus, past participle of innasci to be born in, from in- + nasci to be born — more at nation

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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

Dictionary Entries Near innate

Cite this Entry

“Innate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/innate. Accessed 1 Oct. 2023.

Kids Definition

innate

adjective
in·​nate in-ˈāt How to pronounce innate (audio)
ˈin-ˌāt
1
: existing in or belonging to an individual from birth
an innate ability
2
: inherent
innate defects in the plan
innately adverb
innateness noun
Etymology

Middle English innat "belonging from birth," from Latin innatus, past participle of innasci "to be born in, be a native," from in- "in" and nasci "to be born" — related to native, nature

Medical Definition

innate

adjective
in·​nate in-ˈāt, ˈin-ˌ How to pronounce innate (audio)
: existing in, belonging to, or determined by factors present in an individual from birth : native, inborn
innate behavior
innately adverb
innateness noun

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