native

1 of 2

adjective

na·​tive ˈnā-tiv 

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

6

a

: 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 feelings still native and entire, unsophisticated by pedantry …

—Edmund Burke

8

a

: 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

Native : of, relating to, or being a member of an Indigenous people of North or South America : native american

natively adverb

nativeness noun

nativeness

2 of 2

noun

na·​tive·​ness

plural -es

: the quality or state of being native : naturalness

Synonyms of native

Adjective

• indigenous
• aboriginal

Choose the Right Synonym for native

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 to many countries

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Devils Tower | Uncover thousands of years of ancient Native American cultural history at Devils Tower national monument, an astounding geological feature jutting out of the prairie surrounding the Black Hills. —Meghan Palmer, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 June 2026

Roswell visitors spent the weekend surrounded by fluttering wings, native plants, and hands-on learning as the Chattahoochee Nature Center kicked off its annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival. —Cbs News Atlanta Digital Team, CBS News, 7 June 2026

In partnership with Hama Hama Oysters, Cooper Mountain crafted a wine to complement the flavor profile of native Pacific bivalves. —Mike Desimone, Robb Report, 7 June 2026

The 29-year-old has built a brand online by discussing everything from recommendations in his native Philadelphia to finances and his relationship. —Meredith Wilshere, PEOPLE, 7 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English natif, from Middle French, from Latin nativus, from natus, past participle of nasci to be born — more at nation

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing native

• Alaska native
• Alaskan native
• go native
• native Alaskan
• native-born
• native land
• native soil
• native speaker
• non-native

Rhymes for native

• dative
• accommodative
• accumulative
• adjudicative
• administrative
• affiliative
• agglutinative
• ameliorative
• appreciative
• assimilative
• associative
• authoritative

Kids Definition

native

1 of 2 adjective

na·​tive ˈnāt-iv 

1

: inborn sense 1, natural

native ability

2

: born in a particular place or country

native Hawaiians

3

: belonging to one because of the place or circumstances of one's birth

my native language

4

a

: grown, produced, or having its beginning in a particular region

native art

native stone

b

: living or growing naturally in a particular region

native plants

5

: found in nature especially in a pure form : not artificially prepared

native salt

6

capitalized : of, relating to, or being a member of an Indigenous people of North or South America : native american

natively adverb

native

2 of 2 noun

1

: one born or raised in a particular place

a native of Milwaukee

2

a

: an original or Indigenous inhabitant

b

: something indigenous to a particular locality

3

: a local resident

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English natif "native," from early French natif (same meaning), from Latin nativus (same meaning), from natus, past participle of nasci "to be born" — related to innate, naive, nature

Medical Definition

native

adjective

na·​tive ˈnāt-iv 

1

: belonging to or associated with one by birth

2

: living or growing naturally in a particular region

3

a

: constituting the original substance or source

b

: found in nature especially in an unadulterated form

conversion of a native protein to a denatured protein

natively adverb