non-na·tive
| \ ˌnän-ˈnā-tiv
\
\
variants:
or nonnative
Definition of non-native
: 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
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]
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Cite this Entry
“Non-native.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/non-native. Accessed 1 Aug. 2021.
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More Definitions for non-native
non-native
adjective
English Language Learners Definition of non-native
of an animal or plant
: living or growing in a place that is not the region where it naturally lives and grows
: not born or raised in the place where a particular language is spoken
See the full definition for non-native in the English Language Learners Dictionary
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The first known use of non-native was in 1845
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