innate

American  

[ih-neyt, in-eyt] / ɪˈneɪt, ˈɪn eɪt /

adjective

1. existing in one from birth; inborn; native.

   innate musical talent.

   Synonyms:

   congenital, natural

2. inherent in the essential character of something.

   an innate defect in the hypothesis.

3. originating in or arising from the intellect or the constitution of the mind, rather than learned through experience.

   an innate knowledge of good and evil.

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innate British  

/ ɪˈneɪt, ˈɪneɪt /

adjective

1. existing in a person or animal from birth; congenital; inborn

2. being an essential part of the character of a person or thing

3. instinctive; not learned

   innate capacities

4. botany (of anthers) joined to the filament by the base only

5. (in rationalist philosophy) (of ideas) present in the mind before any experience and knowable by pure reason

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Related Words

Innate, inborn, congenital, hereditary describe qualities, characteristics, or possessions acquired before or at the time of birth. Innate, of Latin origin, and inborn, a native English word, share the literal basic sense “existing at the time of birth,” and they are interchangeable in most contexts: innate (or inborn ) stodginess, agility, gracefulness. Congenital refers most often to characteristics acquired during fetal development, especially defects or undesirable conditions: a congenital deformity; congenital blindness. Hereditary describes qualities or things passed on from ancestors, either through the genes or by social or legal means: Hemophilia is a hereditary condition; a hereditary title.

Other Word Forms

• innately adverb
• innateness noun
• uninnate adjective
• uninnateness noun

Etymology

Origin of innate

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Latin innātus “inborn,” past participle of innāscī “to be born, arise,” equivalent to in- in- ² + nāscī “to be born”; nascent, nativity

Example Sentences

Yet, for all of her work building an empire, Paltrow still has the innate ability to disappear into a character.

From Salon

It’s not a skill, it’s an innate sense of decency and human consideration that exists in the hearts and souls of normal people.

From Los Angeles Times

And yet, Mr Fuller says, it's precisely such qualities that reveal the form's innate appeal, and see it endure among louder, more kinetic offering.

From BBC

Trained immunity is a form of innate immune memory whereby the body generates a more robust response to even unrelated exposures.

From The Wall Street Journal

There, in the confines of its pages, Nora recognizes that her father has a much more innate and perceptive knowledge of her that neither of them ever could’ve imagined.

From Salon

Related Words

• deep-seated
• elemental
• inborn
• ingrained
• inherent
• instinctive
• intrinsic
• intuitive