nativism

[ ney-ti-viz-uh m ]

/ ˈneɪ tɪˌvɪz əm /

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.

QUIZZES

How Hip Is Your Lingo? Take Our Slang Quiz!

If you aren’t already skilled in slang, then this quiz can get you up to speed in no time!

Question 1 of 11

OK Boomer can be perceived as pejorative, but it is mostly considered to be _____

a slang word for astronauts that originated in the 1950s.

a comment toward the Baby Boomer generation that is humorous or ironic in usage.

an obsolete slang term about people who speak loudly.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of nativism

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

OTHER WORDS FROM nativism

na·tiv·ist, noun, adjectivena·tiv·is·tic, adjective

Words nearby nativism

native oak, native son, native speaker, native states, native-born, nativism, nativity, natl, natl., nato, natremia

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

Example sentences from the Web for nativist

Even the Nativist gangs were led already by a couple of Irish Catholics.
Mad, Bad, and Dangerous to Live In: Kevin Baker’s New York|Allen Barra|September 23, 2013|DAILY BEAST
The attacks were personal, sometimes sarcastic, sometimes even verging on nativist (who knew Democrats hated Switzerland so much).
Peter Beinart: The Democratic Convention’s Message Discipline|Peter Beinart|September 5, 2012|DAILY BEAST
And by nativist I mean people who are in essence afraid of the world.
Racism? No, Obama’s Own Incompetence Is Hurting His Campaign|Michael Medved|July 27, 2012|DAILY BEAST
He was actually soft as mush, straining to mollify Hispanics without roiling his own nativist base.
Immigration Could Sink Mitt Romney Regardless of Supreme Court Rulings|Robert Shrum|June 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST

FAIR was dubbed a “nativist hate group” by the Southern Poverty Law Center several years ago.
Solicitor General Verrilli Fumbles on Immigration at the Supreme Court|Terry Greene Sterling|April 26, 2012|DAILY BEAST

British Dictionary definitions for nativist

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