nonnative

[ non-ney-tiv ]

/ ˌnɒnˈneɪ tɪv /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR nonnative ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

of or relating to a language that is not the first language acquired by a person: It is harder to communicate in your nonnative language.

of or relating to a person communicating in a nonnative language: a nonnative speaker of English.

Biology. of or relating to a plant or animal that is not indigenous to a region: The proliferation of nonnative plants is choking out the local flora.

Digital Technology. of or relating to software that was not originally designed for the platform on which it is running: nonnative user interfaces; nonnative apps.

QUIZZES

CAN YOU ACE THIS QUIZ ABOUT “COMPLIMENT” VS. “COMPLEMENT”?

Take this quiz to see if you really know the difference between “compliment” and “complement"!

Question 1 of 11

“Compliment” and “complement” had a shared meaning a long time ago, but today they are no longer interchangeable.

True

False

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of nonnative

First recorded in 1850–60; non- + native

Words nearby nonnative

nonmetallic, nonmiscible, nonmonetary advantages, nonmoral, nonnasal, nonnative, nonne's syndrome, nonnegative, nonnitrogenous, nonnuclear, nonny-nonny