native speaker

[ ney-tiv spee-ker ]

/ ˈneɪ tɪv ˈspi kər /

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noun

a person whose knowledge and use of a language is characterized by the fact that it is their first or native language, a language that a person acquires fully through extensive exposure in childhood: As native speakers, we are often not conscious of the conjugation rules we follow.The first requirement is that you can hold a one-minute conversation with a native speaker of German.Compare nonnative speaker.

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of native speaker

First recorded in 1855–60; see also nonnative speaker

Words nearby native speaker

native companion, native dog, native language, native oak, native son, native speaker, Native States, nativism, nativist, nativity, natl.

How to use native speaker in a sentence

The speaker conjures up centuries of collective sagacity, aligning oneself with an eternal, inarguable good.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
At a press conference today with Scalise, Speaker Boehner again defended him.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
NEW ORLEANS — John Boehner was reelected House Speaker yesterday by his Republican colleagues despite some dissenting members.
The Price of Steve Scalise’s Silence|Jason Berry|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
House rules require an absolute majority of members voting to choose a speaker.
Kamikaze Congress Prepares to Strike Boehner|Ben Jacobs|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Normally, 434 members (minus Michael Grimm who resigned) would vote for Speaker.
Democrats Accidentally Save Boehner From Republican Coup|Ben Jacobs, Jackie Kucinich|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
His 6,000 native auxiliaries (as it proved later on) could not be relied upon in a civil war.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
She came to know the peculiarities of nearly all native trees.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
A native of Haarlem on Zandam, the date of her birth being unknown.
Women in the fine arts, from the Seventh Century B.C. to the Twentieth Century A.D.|Clara Erskine Clement
The history of that terrible hour is brightened by many such instances of native fealty.
The Red Year|Louis Tracy
Here the speaker, putting her hand before her mouth, coughed again, and looked affectionately at the elder Mr. Weller.
The Posthumous Papers of the Pickwick Club, v. 2(of 2)|Charles Dickens

British Dictionary definitions for native speaker

native speaker

noun

a person having a specified native languagea native speaker of Cree

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012