nonnative
Americanadjective
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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.
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of or relating to a person communicating in a nonnative language.
a nonnative speaker of English.
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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.
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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.
Etymology
Origin of nonnative
First recorded in 1850–60; non- ( def. ) + native ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The fish contend with dams that cut off their spawning grounds, nonnative fish such as bass that prey on them and powerful pumps that pull them into areas where they are vulnerable.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026
Once a nonnative species gets into an environment, it is often too late to get rid of it, and the focus shifts to containment or long-term management.
From Science Daily • Nov. 22, 2024
More than 50 nonnative reptile species are now established across the state, with many posing severe threats to agriculture, native ecosystems, public safety and the state's economy.
From Science Daily • Nov. 22, 2024
Debbie McGuire, executive director of the Wetlands and Wildlife Care Center, said she has worked with him for 10 years, referring nonnative waterfowl to Berkowitz’s sanctuary.
From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 4, 2024
There was one class for nonnative speakers, and all the rest of the periods were for fluent speakers.
From "The First Rule of Punk" by Celia C. Pérez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
