native 1 of 2

1
as in indigenous
belonging to a particular place by birth or origin though she now lived in the Northeast, she was a native Midwesterner

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2
as in crude
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining diamonds in their native state are not the bright, flashy gems that one might imagine

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3

native

2 of 2

noun

1
as in resident
a usually longtime resident of a locality the natives seem to resent the summer tourists even though they depend upon them for their livelihood

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2
as in aborigine
a member of the first people to inhabit a region the anthropologist spent two years living among the island's natives and observing and documenting their customs and traditions

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word native distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of native are aboriginal, endemic, and indigenous. While all these words mean "belonging to a locality," native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it.

native tribal customs

When can aboriginal be used instead of native?

The meanings of aboriginal and native largely overlap; however, aboriginal implies having no known others preceding in occupancy of a particular region.

the aboriginal peoples of Australia

In what contexts can endemic take the place of native?

The synonyms endemic and native are sometimes interchangeable, but endemic implies being peculiar to a region.

a disease endemic in Africa

When might indigenous be a better fit than native?

The words indigenous and native are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of native
Adjective
Cilantro is native to the Mediterranean and well-suited for growing in our climate. Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025 The beloved player teammates call Sasha will also miss playing for his native Finland in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy next February in addition to the whole of the NHL season barring a recovery miracle. Miami Herald, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
The Illinois native’s credits include General Hospital, Days of Our Lives, All My Children and more. Angel Saunders, PEOPLE, 27 Sep. 2025 One of the biggest buyers has been Black Lion Properties LLC, a company controlled by Edwin Castro, an Altadena native who won a $2 billion lottery jackpot in 2022, and his brother, Jesse Castro. Bloomberg, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for native
Recent Examples of Synonyms for native
Adjective
  • In the late 19th century, indigenous Americans put up a final push against being forced into reservations.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
  • In addition to the slate of bands performing with the beach as the backdrop, the festival’s Storytellers program spotlights speakers who present about a wave of topics such as ocean activism, environmental justice, art, big-wave surfing and indigenous history.
    Laylan Connelly, Oc Register, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Brandon, his nerves showing, spoke about the oil boom, cartel activity, copper and crude-oil theft, and the struggles the six law enforcement officers in the county have dealing with it all.
    Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Chad Powers’ nasty protagonist should give it license to be more cutting, rather than just unimaginatively crude, in its humor.
    Judy Berman, Time, 26 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • There’s such an inherent contradiction between golf as an individual sport and the Ryder Cup as a team event.
    Jayson Jenks, New York Times, 24 Sep. 2025
  • During inflation, the Universe must have been devoid of matter-and-radiation and instead contained some sort of energy — whether inherent to space or as part of a field — that didn’t dilute as the Universe expanded.
    Ethan Siegel, Big Think, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • But Bonis does wonder about medical students and residents who are going to grow up with these tools, and may not be able to fully develop their own clinical reasoning.
    Alexis Kayser, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Sep. 2025
  • All of San Diego County recently had only 78 detox beds that accepted ​Medi-Cal, the state health insurance for low-income residents, officials have said.
    Blake Nelson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The Guanches were aborigines of the Canary Islands.
    JP Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
  • The bill’s sponsors insisted their motives were not racist, although, one of the sponsors, state Sen. Scott Beason, later recorded himself referring to black people as aborigines while wearing a wire for the FBI.
    Kyle Whitmire, al, 22 Nov. 2019
Adjective
  • While some people express concerns, the AKC noted that many cultures throughout history have considered co-sleeping with animals as beneficial, such as aboriginal Australians who slept beside their dogs for warmth and protection.
    Maria Morava, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Heyerdahl built this replica of the aboriginal balsa raft to test his theories that the ancient Peruvians reached Polynesia with this transport.
    Boston Herald editorial staff, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • The morning kicked off behind the Rose Creek Cottage and was one of many activities hosted by Friends of Rose Creek, an organization aimed at preserving the natural habitat and connecting community members.
    Madison Beveridge, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2025
  • The edgy vibe of side braids is a natural departure from the more flowy, feminine styles that usually dominate in the summer (like boho braids).
    Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 25 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • But more than that, there has to be an intrinsic motivation to take on gargantuan tasks.
    Haley Sawyer, Oc Register, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Yet no one embodies the Paris Texas spirit and intrinsic dualities better than Nadia Lee Cohen.
    Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Native.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/native. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

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