non-native
adjective
non-na·tive
ˌnän-ˈnā-tiv 
variants
or nonnative
: not native: such as
a
of a plant or animal
: living or growing in a place that is not the location of its natural occurrence
a non-native fish species
… overgrazing causes grasslands to give way to sagebrush, mesquite and non-native exotic grasses, environmentalists contend.—
Doug McInnis
Doug McInnis
b
: not born or raised in the place where a particular language is spoken
non-native inhabitants
a nonnative speaker of English [=a person who speaks English but whose native language is not English]
non-native
noun
or nonnative
plural non-natives or nonnatives
popular among both natives and non-natives
Examples of non-native in a Sentence
nonnative customs that made the recent immigrants stand out in their new country
Recent Examples on the Web
While some issues are known—for example, habitat loss, non-native plants, artificial light at night, climate and pesticides—scientists need to know a lot more about the drivers and consequences of the decline to conserve insects while protecting human needs.
—Madeline Bodin, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Some locations do not allow wedding bouquets with non-native plants because the seeds could potentially germinate.
—Sarah Sekula, USA Today, 25 June 2025
However, many of those same experts have warned that clearing brush is not the same as large-scale logging or clear cutting — which can eliminate fire-suppressing shade and moisture and lead to new growth of more combustible non-native plants and grasses.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
Rose-of-Sharon This non-native, woody shrub can grow up to 8 to 12 feet and make a bold statement in your garden.
—Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for non-native
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Madeline Bodin, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 June 2025
Some locations do not allow wedding bouquets with non-native plants because the seeds could potentially germinate.
—Sarah Sekula, USA Today, 25 June 2025
However, many of those same experts have warned that clearing brush is not the same as large-scale logging or clear cutting — which can eliminate fire-suppressing shade and moisture and lead to new growth of more combustible non-native plants and grasses.
—Hayley Smith, Los Angeles Times, 24 June 2025
Rose-of-Sharon This non-native, woody shrub can grow up to 8 to 12 feet and make a bold statement in your garden.
—Anne Readel, Better Homes & Gardens, 18 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for non-native
Cite this Entry
“Non-native.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/non-native. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.
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