natural-born
Americanadjective
-
by virtue of one's nature, qualities, or innate talent.
a natural-born musician.
adjective
Etymology
Origin of natural-born
First recorded in 1575–85
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Some 80,000 natural-born Americans reside in Spain, a number that doesn’t fully count students, dual citizens, workers on short-term contracts or residents who believe they will return to the U.S. in the near future.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026
Titled “Mary Magdalene,” it mixes fact and fiction, as in general seems to be Davis’ wont as a natural-born storyteller, always refining her tale through fabulation and embellishment.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 9, 2025
Again, O’Donnell was born in New York, making her a natural-born citizen.
From Salon • Jul. 12, 2025
He stressed though that he had "never heard" of cases of natural-born US citizens being sent abroad for imprisonment for crimes committed and prosecuted in the US.
From BBC • Feb. 4, 2025
If he began treating the Incorrigibles as if they were his own natural-born children, as his mother seemed to think he should, wouldn’t that be lucky for them?
From "The Unseen Guest" by Maryrose Wood
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
