nativism

[ ney-ti-viz-uhm ]

/ ˈneɪ tɪˌvɪz əm /

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noun

the policy of protecting the interests of native inhabitants against those of immigrants.

the policy or practice of preserving or reviving an Indigenous culture.

Philosophy. the doctrine that innate ideas exist.

innateness hypothesis.

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Origin of nativism

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; native + -ism

OTHER WORDS FROM nativism

na·tiv·ist, noun, adjective

Words nearby nativism

native language, native oak, native son, native speaker, Native States, nativism, nativist, nativity, natl., NATO, natrium

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use nativism in a sentence

Texans’ use of “Come and take it” in their fight against Mexico added a new layer of nativism to the original legend, and the Alamo siege reinforced its connections to martyrdom.
This Is the Gun-Loving Right’s Favorite Greek Taunt|James Romm|September 27, 2021|The Daily Beast
So I reached out to Ackerman for a forthcoming episode of Vox Conversations to talk about how the war on terror upended American politics and set us on a glide path to nativism and lawlessness.
America is still stuck in the world 9/11 built|Sean Illing|September 10, 2021|Vox
Deep traditions of racism and nativism found many Americans receptive, even as the United States prepared to fight against them overseas.
The long history of American Nazism — and why we can’t forget it today|Ronald Granieri, Susan MacNeal|July 13, 2021|Washington Post
As history education in American K-12 schools was formalized in the late 19th century, during a period of nativism and nostalgia, the idea that such classes should inspire patriotism became more widespread.
'Critical Race Theory Is Simply the Latest Bogeyman.' Inside the Fight Over What Kids Learn About America's History|Olivia B. Waxman|June 24, 2021|Time

This is a particularly gross bit of nativism, but it's also dumb.
Perhaps Tucker Carlson’s data cherry-picking isn’t limited to vaccines|Philip Bump|May 7, 2021|Washington Post
The relatively lax immigration policy of the early 20th century gave way to rabid nativism in the 1920s.
Superman Is Jewish: The Hebrew Roots of America's Greatest Superhero|Rich Goldstein|August 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
While American nativism and anti-Semitism declined after World War II, so did the overt Jewishness of Superman.
Superman Is Jewish: The Hebrew Roots of America's Greatest Superhero|Rich Goldstein|August 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But last I checked, neither Jean-Marie Le Pen, Filip Dewinter nor Joe Arpaio learned their nativism from reading Jabotinsky.
Sound of Silence|Peter Beinart|May 24, 2012|DAILY BEAST
Except in city politics nativism had no vitality; in state and national politics it really had no excuse.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 8|Various
Its only real contribution to government was the proof that nativism is not Americanism.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 15, Slice 8|Various
They repudiated nativism; they repudiated independence; they abhorred the very idea of annexation.
George Brown|John Lewis
These great companies especially promote the patriotism of Great Britain, but they are controlled by no narrow nativism.
The Unpopular Review Vol. I|Various
The Old West raised the issues of nativism and a lower standard of comfort.
The Frontier in American History|Frederick Jackson Turner

British Dictionary definitions for nativism

nativism

/ (ˈneɪtɪˌvɪzəm) /

noun

mainly US the policy of favouring the natives of a country over the immigrants

anthropol the policy of protecting and reaffirming native tribal cultures in reaction to acculturation

the doctrine that the mind and its capacities are innately structured and that much knowledge is innate

Derived forms of nativism

nativist, noun, adjectivenativistic, adjective

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