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native-born

adjective

na·​tive-born ˈnā-tiv-ˌbȯrn How to pronounce native-born (audio)
: belonging to or associated with a particular place (such as a country) because of being born in that place
a native-born American/Texan
compare natural-born

Examples of native-born in a Sentence

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.
Research shows that immigrants access public services at lower rates than the native-born, and the major federal public benefits programs exclude non-citizens anyway. Raul A. Reyes, MSNBC Newsweek, 21 Nov. 2025 Identity and social order were central to the Klan’s agenda, which equated being American to being White, native-born and Protestant. Alexandria Burris, IndyStar, 17 Nov. 2025 Since most Latinos are native-born, their health status is generally poorer compared to non-Latino populations and immigrant groups. Noreen Sugrue, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2025 Annual number of new U.S. citizens Naturalization, the process by which immigrants take citizenship in the United States, extends to foreign nationals the same rights and responsibilities as those held by the native-born. Kurt Snibbe, Oc Register, 20 June 2025 Immigrants of all stripes commit crimes — from petty to serious — at lower rates than the native-born, while forming the backbone of multiple industries from agriculture and construction to health care and tech. New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 13 June 2025 To attribute our economic growth to immigrants is to ignore the contributions of the 85% of the country that is native-born, and all its work, investment and spending. Rich Lowry, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025 During the picking season, his employment rolls can swell to as many as 200 workers, none of whom is native-born and white. Robin Abcarian, The Mercury News, 3 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1645, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of native-born was in 1645

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Native-born.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/native-born. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.

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