nativism
noun
na·tiv·ism
ˈnā-ti-ˌvi-zəm 
1
: a policy of favoring native inhabitants as opposed to immigrants
2
: the revival or perpetuation of an Indigenous culture especially in opposition to acculturation
Examples of nativism in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
At the same time, the resolution calls for humane immigration policies that uphold justice and mercy, strongly rejecting nativism, discrimination and racial or ethnic hostility.
—
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Nevertheless, in national politics, the Party acts as a clearing house for Switzerland’s most extreme expressions of nativism.
—Jessi Jezewska Stevens, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Their decades-long obsession with immigration and hot-button social issues comes off as — and sometimes is — ugly nativism.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
The show gestures at the classic targets of old-timey sexism, small-mindedness, and nativism—much of it embodied by Gasteyer’s scheming character—but only in the safest possible ways.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nativism
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.
Marc Ramirez, USA Today, 10 June 2026
Nevertheless, in national politics, the Party acts as a clearing house for Switzerland’s most extreme expressions of nativism.
—Jessi Jezewska Stevens, New Yorker, 8 June 2026
Their decades-long obsession with immigration and hot-button social issues comes off as — and sometimes is — ugly nativism.
—U T Editorial Board, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026
The show gestures at the classic targets of old-timey sexism, small-mindedness, and nativism—much of it embodied by Gasteyer’s scheming character—but only in the safest possible ways.
—Jackson McHenry, Vulture, 21 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nativism
Cite this Entry
“Nativism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nativism. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
