native 1 of 2

Definition of nativenext
1
as in indigenous
belonging to a particular place by birth or origin though she now lived in the Northeast, she was a native Midwesterner

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2
as in crude
being such as found in nature and not altered by processing or refining diamonds in their native state are not the bright, flashy gems that one might imagine

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3

native

2 of 2

noun

1
as in resident
a usually longtime resident of a locality the natives seem to resent the summer tourists even though they depend upon them for their livelihood

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2
as in aborigine
a member of the first people to inhabit a region the anthropologist spent two years living among the island's natives and observing and documenting their customs and traditions

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Synonym Chooser

How is the word native distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of native are aboriginal, endemic, and indigenous. While all these words mean "belonging to a locality," native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it.

native tribal customs

When can aboriginal be used instead of native?

The meanings of aboriginal and native largely overlap; however, aboriginal implies having no known others preceding in occupancy of a particular region.

the aboriginal peoples of Australia

In what contexts can endemic take the place of native?

The synonyms endemic and native are sometimes interchangeable, but endemic implies being peculiar to a region.

a disease endemic in Africa

When might indigenous be a better fit than native?

The words indigenous and native are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, indigenous applies to that which is not only native but which, as far as can be determined, has never been introduced or brought from elsewhere.

indigenous plants

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of native
Adjective
Waving and smiling, Aveiro, accompanied by a burly gentleman, takes a seat at a table bedecked with a bouquet of roses, ready to tuck into some cuisine from her native country. Madeleine Marr, Miami Herald, 30 June 2026 Performance By Numbers The DX1 II can handle incoming digital audio signals to 32-bit/384kHz PCM and native DSD256 over its USB-C input. Mark Sparrow, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
Noun
The New York City native built an entertainment empire in the late '80s and '90s after launching the production company Miramax with his brother, fellow film producer Robert Weinstein. Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 July 2026 Willis, born July 1, 1951, in Texas but a San Francisco native, grew up around gospel music in his minister father’s Baptist church. Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for native
Recent Examples of Synonyms for native
Adjective
  • American barbecue has always been a unique mixture of cultures, predominantly Black, indigenous and European influences.
    Charlie Kolodziej, Bon Appetit Magazine, 1 July 2026
  • There’s a perfectly worthy retelling of this story that approaches Los Angeles 1821 like Chinatown, one that delves deeply into the traditions of the people indigenous to the land as well as the early attempts to bring fresh water to this desert.
    Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 30 June 2026
Adjective
  • By triggering the release of a natural growth factor in the brain and modulating neural pathways associated with addiction and reward, ibogaine restores healthy dopamine function and reduces cravings, Barsuglia said.
    Gavin Escott, USA Today, 6 July 2026
  • This multitasking hair care product is known for reducing frizz, boosting shine, and hydrating split ends, and some natural oils even help with hair growth.
    Ariana Yaptangco, Glamour, 5 July 2026
Adjective
  • Separating identity from one's profession allows for continuous learning and thriving in an evolving workplace, ensuring value comes from inherent capabilities, not just a role.
    Dr. Diane Hamilton, Forbes.com, 4 July 2026
  • The physical configuration achieves passive safety operational profiles by relying on subcritical physics variables and inherent material limitations.
    Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 3 July 2026
Noun
  • The area last week was surrounded by surveillance cameras and patrolled by National Guardsmen as lifelong resident John Cates strolled the area.
    Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 2 July 2026
  • The city is recommending zoning regulations that fall in line with state statute while trying to calm residents who are worried data centers will overwhelm resources like water and energy and impose on their quality of life.
    Alysa Guffey, IndyStar, 2 July 2026
Noun
  • The Guanches were aborigines of the Canary Islands.
    JP Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
  • The bill’s sponsors insisted their motives were not racist, although, one of the sponsors, state Sen. Scott Beason, later recorded himself referring to black people as aborigines while wearing a wire for the FBI.
    Kyle Whitmire, al, 22 Nov. 2019
Adjective
  • The injuries themselves aren’t too surprising; wild dingoes hunt kangaroos, and Aboriginal hunters worked with dingoes the same way people in other parts of the world have hunted with dogs for millennia.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
  • Australian aboriginal peoples, meanwhile, saw a great boomerang in the stellar formation, while the Native American Shawnee tribe envisioned dancing star maidens.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 May 2026
Adjective
  • Rainfall — as little as a tenth of an inch, according to the Allegheny County Sanitary Authority, or ALCOSAN — can cause an overflow of stormwater and raw sewage to flow into the rivers.
    Finch Walker, USA Today, 5 July 2026
  • How to Eat Shred raw Brussels sprouts and use in a coleslaw or salad.
    Kirsten Nunez, Martha Stewart, 5 July 2026
Adjective
  • Andrew Warden, vice president of marketing at Adobe, noted that brands need to adapt to the fact that AI is now an intrinsic part of the default search experience.
    Roy Stephen Canivel, Footwear News, 29 June 2026
  • Brand sentiment, the real measure of a creator's intrinsic value, the strength of their network and how much their audience genuinely trusts them.
    Taylor Reilly, Forbes.com, 29 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Native.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/native. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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