native

[ ney-tiv ]

/ ˈneɪ tɪv /

adjective

being the place or environment in which a person was born or a thing came into being: one's native land.

belonging to a person by birth or to a thing by nature; inherent: native ability;native grace.

belonging by birth to a people regarded as indigenous to a certain place, especially a preliterate people: Native guides accompanied the expedition through the rainforest.

of indigenous origin, growth, or production: native pottery.

of, relating to, or characteristic of the Indigenous inhabitants of a place or country: native customs;native dress.

born in a particular place or country: a native New Yorker.

of or relating to a language acquired by a person before or to the exclusion of any other language: Her native language is Greek.

pertaining to or characteristic of a person using his or her native language: a native speaker of English;native command of a language.

under the rule of natives: a native government.

occupied by natives: the native quarter of Algiers.

remaining or growing in a natural state; unadorned or unchanged: the native beauty of a desert island.

forming the source or origin of a person or thing: He returned to his native Kansas.

originating naturally in a particular country or region, as animals or plants: Hundreds of species of plants and trees native to central Texas are displayed and nurtured in the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, south of Austin.

found in nature rather than produced artificially, as a mineral substance: the difference between native and industrial diamonds.

Chemistry, Mineralogy. (of metals) occurring in nature pure or uncombined: native copper.

belonging to a person as a birthright: to deprive a person of his native rights.

Digital Technology.

of or relating to software designed specifically for the platform on which it is running: native applications for 64-bit PCs;native mobile apps.
of or relating to data interpreted or displayed by the software or hardware for which it was originally encoded: to view the file in its native format.

Archaic. closely related, as by birth.

noun

Sometimes Offensive. one of the people indigenous to a place or country, especially as distinguished from strangers, foreigners, colonizers, etc.: the natives of Chile.

a person born in a particular place or country: a native of Ohio.

an organism indigenous to a particular region.

British. an oyster reared in British waters, especially in an artificial bed.

Astrology. a person born under a particular planet: Capricorn natives are practical, collected, and reliable allies to have in a crisis.

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To cook in water that begins cold and then reaches a boil.

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Idioms for native

go native, Informal: Sometimes Offensive. to adopt the way of life of a place or environment that is different from one's own (sometimes used facetiously): After living on the island for a year, we went native and did without air conditioning just like the locals. I don’t usually drink alcohol, but at the frat party I went native and played beer pong with everyone else.

Origin of native

First recorded in 1325–75; from Latin nātīvus “inborn, natural,” equivalent to nāt(us) (past participle of nāscī “to be born”) + -īvus, replacing Middle English natif, from Middle French, from Latin, as above; cf. -ive

SYNONYMS FOR native

2 inherited, innate, inbred, congenital.

4 autochthonous, aboriginal.

11 real, genuine, original.

19 aborigine.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR native

ANTONYMS FOR native

2 acquired.

19 alien.

SEE ANTONYMS FOR native

usage note for native

When used to mean "an original inhabitant of a place or country," the noun native may be taken as offensive and has declined in use. Historically it is associated with colonialist attitudes: Indigenous people, especially when nonwhite, were typically considered to be primitive or culturally inferior. Unlike the noun, the corresponding adjectival use of native is generally acceptable, as in Native American.

OTHER WORDS FROM native

na·tive·ly, adverbna·tive·ness, nounnon·na·tive, adjective, nounnon·na·tive·ly, adverb

non·na·tive·ness, nounpro·na·tive, adjectivequasi-native, adjectiveun·na·tive, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for native

This was no tricky old cow pony, but a natively vicious, powerful, and cunning young horse.
The Eagle's Heart|Hamlin Garland
How this thus falling short of a natively richly endowed soul became possible, can be told only from a study of his life.
Lectures on Russian Literature|Ivan Panin
War is thus seen to be a function of social institutions, not of what is natively fixed in human constitution.
Human Nature and Conduct|John Dewey
There can be no manner of doubt that bright colors are natively pleasant.
Psychology|Robert S. Woodworth

It was all of the Second Empire, qualified by an erratic, exaggerated touch that was natively American.
On the Stairs|Henry B. Fuller

British Dictionary definitions for native

native

/ (ˈneɪtɪv) /

adjective

relating or belonging to a person or thing by virtue of conditions existing at the time of birthmy native city

inherent, natural, or innatea native strength

born in a specified placea native German

(when postpositive, foll by to) originating in a specific place or areakangaroos are native to Australia

characteristic of or relating to the indigenous inhabitants of a country or areathe native art of the New Guinea Highlands

(of chemical elements, esp metals) found naturally in the elemental form

unadulterated by civilization, artifice, or adornment; natural

archaic related by birth or race

go native (of a settler) to adopt the lifestyle of the local population, esp when it appears less civilized

noun

(usually foll by of) a person born in a particular placea native of Geneva

(usually foll by of) a species originating in a particular place or areathe kangaroo is a native of Australia

a member of an indigenous people of a country or area, esp a non-White people, as opposed to colonial settlers and immigrants

offensive, old-fashioned any non-White

Derived forms of native

natively, adverbnativeness, noun

Word Origin for native

C14: from Latin nātīvus innate, natural, from nascī to be born

usage for native

Because of its potentially offensive and colonial overtones, native as a noun without qualification is best avoided. It is however acceptable when modified, as in : natives of Edinburgh, or a native of North Carolina

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

Medical definitions for native

native

[ nā′tĭv ]

adj.

Originating, growing, or produced in a certain place or region; indigenous.

Occurring in nature pure or uncombined with other substances.

Scientific definitions for native

native

[ nā′tĭv ]

Living or growing naturally in a particular place or region; indigenous.

Occurring in nature on its own, uncombined with other substances. Copper and gold are often found in native form.

Of or relating to the naturally occurring conformation of a macromolecule, such as a protein.

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adjective

noun

Derived forms of native

Word Origin for native

usage for native

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adj.

Scientific definitions for native

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native

adjective

noun

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usage note for native

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British Dictionary definitions for native

adjective

noun

Derived forms of native

Word Origin for native

usage for native

Medical definitions for native

adj.

Scientific definitions for native