native-born
adjective
na·tive-born
ˈnā-tiv-ˌbȯrn 
: 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
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
Republicans tend to be religious, rural, native-born, older, male, and less educated.
—Isabel Sawhill, Foreign Affairs, 4 Jan. 2021
One factor is immigrants, who made up 30% of the population in 2018 and who tend to have a higher life expectancy than those who are native-born, therefore positively contributing to national life expectancy.
—New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2024
Displaced migrants have higher employment rates than the native-born.
—Eduardo Porter, Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2024
That’s in keeping with long-standing statistical realities: immigrants, by and large, commit crimes at lower rates than the native-born.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2024
Some constitutional clauses, like the requirement that the President be native-born, are rules, but many, like the equal-protection clause (the only reference to equality in the entire document), are principles.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
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.
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
Republicans tend to be religious, rural, native-born, older, male, and less educated.
—Isabel Sawhill, Foreign Affairs, 4 Jan. 2021
One factor is immigrants, who made up 30% of the population in 2018 and who tend to have a higher life expectancy than those who are native-born, therefore positively contributing to national life expectancy.
—New Atlas, 13 Aug. 2024
Displaced migrants have higher employment rates than the native-born.
—Eduardo Porter, Washington Post, 1 Aug. 2024
That’s in keeping with long-standing statistical realities: immigrants, by and large, commit crimes at lower rates than the native-born.
—New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 4 Jan. 2024
Some constitutional clauses, like the requirement that the President be native-born, are rules, but many, like the equal-protection clause (the only reference to equality in the entire document), are principles.
—Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Native-born.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/native-born. Accessed 26 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share