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definitions

nativism

[ney-ti-viz-uh m]
noun
  1. the policy of protecting the interests of native inhabitants against those of immigrants.
  2. the policy or practice of preserving or reviving an indigenous culture.
  3. Philosophy. the doctrine that innate ideas exist.
  4. innateness hypothesis.

Origin of nativism

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45; native + -ism
Related formsna·tiv·ist, noun, adjectivena·tiv·is·tic, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

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British Dictionary definitions for nativist

nativism

noun
  1. mainly US the policy of favouring the natives of a country over the immigrants
  2. anthropol the policy of protecting and reaffirming native tribal cultures in reaction to acculturation
  3. the doctrine that the mind and its capacities are innately structured and that much knowledge is innate
Derived Formsnativist, 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
Word Origin and History for nativist

nativism

n.

U.S. anti-immigrant movement, 1845, from native (adj.) + -ism. Later used in other contexts. Related: Nativist.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper