innate

adjective

in·​nate i-ˈnāt 

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

Synonyms

• built-in
• constitutional
• constitutive
• essential
• hardwired
• immanent
• inborn
• inbred
• indigenous
• ingrain
• ingrained
• engrained
• inherent
• integral
• intrinsic
• native
• natural

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

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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

Kids Definition

innate

adjective

in·​nate in-ˈāt 

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 

: existing in, belonging to, or determined by factors present in an individual from birth : native, inborn

innate behavior

innately adverb

innateness noun