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
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
Puerto Ricans aren't immigrants, but natural-born citizens, with the same legal status as any random white guy in a diner in Iowa.
From Salon • Oct. 29, 2024
“Well done! You are natural-born poets, each and every one of you. Of course, iambic pentameter should not be confused with anapestic tetrameter, as I am sure you already know. Would anyone care to demonstrate?”
From "The Interrupted Tale" 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.
