native

adjective

na·tive | \ˈnā-tiv

Definition of native

(Entry 1 of 2)

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 dramatist— William Peden

5 : natural, normal a generosity that was native to him

6a : 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 pedantry— Edmund Burke

8a : constituting the original substance or source the way I must return to native dust— John 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

native

noun

Definition of native (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : one born or reared in a particular place

2a : 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

Other Words from native Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about native

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Choose the Right Synonym for native

Adjective

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

Set in a field of native grasses and wildflowers and surrounded by the Bridger Teton National Forest, the 6,407-square-foot home was designed by Carney Logan Burke to blend into its natural surroundings. — Megan Barber, Curbed, "Mod mountain retreat asks $11.9M," 9 Nov. 2018 Mountain goats aren't a native species in the park. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "Mountain Goats Are Being Airlifted Out of a National Park Because They Crave Human Pee," 28 Sep. 2018 Shaik spoke to Fox News about leaving her native Australia for New York City at age 17, coping with discrimination and why she’s not fazed by temptation. — Stephanie Nolasco, Fox News, "Victoria's Secret model Shanina Shaik recalls being bullied over her looks: 'I wasn't in a good place'," 25 Sep. 2018 In many areas of the globe, native species have been wiped out of large areas of their range even though some habitats that could support them were left intact or later restored. — John Timmer, Ars Technica, "Transplanted mammals take a century to learn to “surf the green wave”," 7 Sep. 2018 Already, cats in New Zealand have killed off nine native species of birds and are endangering 33 more. — Angela Chen, The Verge, "New Zealand town suggests banning cats to save native birds," 31 Aug. 2018 And few things are as bad for an island as invasive rats, which show up and devour everything in their path—including the eggs and chicks of native bird species, which haven’t learned to contend with mammalian predators. — Matt Simon, WIRED, "Rats! Coral Reefs Aren't Getting the Bird Poop They Need," 11 July 2018 Brabham has followed suit, competing in the Indianapolis 500 two years ago and being part of this year’s winning team of the Bathurst 12 Hour in his native Australia. — Drew Davison, star-telegram, "Tired of watching cars go in circles? Stadium SUPER trucks break that racing mold," 8 June 2018 Forcibly removed from their homes and disconnected from their families, they were educated only in English, forbidden to speak their native language, and converted to Christianity. — Rory Taylor, Teen Vogue, "The Current Border Crisis Feels All Too Familiar for Indigenous Peoples in the United States," 12 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Oklahoma City Thunder star Paul George, a native of Southern California like Leonard, could join James there this summer since the Lakers have room for two max contracts. — Marla Ridenour Akron Beacon Journal, star-telegram, "LeBron James opts out of contract, will hit free agency Sunday," 29 June 2018 The movie will be filmed at Elvis Presley's famous home and featured throughout the film, so looks like Kellie, a Nashville native, won't have to travel far. — Jessica Leigh Mattern, Country Living, "Kellie Pickler Is Starring in a New Hallmark Christmas Movie—and It’s Being Filmed at Graceland," 4 June 2018 The Bronx native, who is a legal assistant at the Bronx District Attorney’s Office, waited for his friends regardless, but then walked out when everyone was ready to go. — Breanna Edwards, The Root, "Bronx, NY, Man Allegedly Beaten by Pizzeria Employee With Wooden Pizza-Making Tool Demands Justice," 31 May 2018 With a wise and wistful touch, Brinkley offers us a series of portraits of black men — New York City natives, all — who cannot square their desires with the demands of a culture that expects masculinity, self-sufficiency and confidence. — Brittany Allen, Longreads, "Masters of Contradiction," 24 May 2018 The California native, however, also got too close to the lava on Mother’s Day. — Travis Fedschun, Fox News, "Hawaii man describes 'powerful and hot' lava bomb snapping his leg in half," 23 May 2018 Graham, a 6-foot-2 native of Raleigh, N.C., will be out indefinitely, the team said. — Gary Bedore, kansascity, "Devonté Graham suffers injury to right knee, according to report from NBA’s Hornets," 11 July 2018 Privacy - Terms Biyombo, a native of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, is a rim protector. — Rick Bonnell, charlotteobserver, "Reports: Trade could send Bismack Biyombo back to the Charlotte Hornets," 7 July 2018 Robert Parker, a native of Tampa Bay, Fla., oversees business operations, including the extensive bourbon menu and craft cocktails. — Vickie Snow Jurkowski, Daily Southtown, "Guide to outdoor dining in Chicago suburbs: Girl in the Park in Orland Park," 5 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'native.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.