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

nativist

ˈnā-ti-vist 

noun or adjective

nativistic

ˌnā-ti-ˈvi-stik 

adjective

Examples of nativism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Latinos have been not only frequent targets of nativism and xenophobic violence but also supporters — regularly enforcers — of it. — Eladio Bobadilla, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026

Their ideology feeds off nativism and an opposition to diversity. — Literary Hub, 28 July 2026

Advertisement The journalists Crystal Eastman and Randolph Bourne argued similarly amid the nativism and nationalism of the First World War, a time not unlike our own. — Dominic Erdozain, Time, 3 July 2026

The party’s rhetoric, which includes nativism and calling to move on from the shadow of the Holocaust, has ignited allegations of antisemitism from leading Jewish voices in Germany, even as the party and its defenders say its policies are ideal to keep Jews safe. — Toby Axelrod, Sun Sentinel, 22 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nativism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• sophism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism