nonnative 1 of 2

adjective

ˌnän-ˈnā-tiv How to pronounce nonnative (audio)
Definition of nonnativenext
as in foreign
being, relating to, or characteristic of a country other than one's own nonnative customs that made the recent immigrants stand out in their new country

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nonnative

2 of 2

noun

as in stranger
a person who is not native to or known to a community the problems encountered by a nonnative after moving into a close-knit community

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 nonnative
Adjective
Their populations were first threatened in the late 1800s when nonnative trout that fed on tadpoles were introduced to their habitats for recreational fishing. — ABC News, 29 Sep. 2026 But then in the mid-1980s, nonnative lake trout gained a foothold. — Christine Peterson, Outdoor Life, 23 Sep. 2026 As for fish, settlers had begun introducing nonnative species by the late 1800s for sport fishing. — Noah Haggerty, Los Angeles Times, 11 Sep. 2026 The nonnative trout prey on native Kokanee salmon, which Fish and Game stocks at Payette Lake. — Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 26 Aug. 2026 Most of these fish were nonnative trout species which were stocked into historically fishless waters. — Logan Smith, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 The immediate response should include recording how long ships have remained stationary, inspecting hulls, forecasting their first ports of call and expanding monitoring for nonnative species. — Monica Sanders, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 Aggressive plants have robust growth, can be native or nonnative, and are sometimes further classified as invasive. — Dr. Lauren Kurtz, Hartford Courant, 16 Aug. 2026 Eurasian Eagle Owls are apex predators, and Flaco was a nonnative species that may have had a negative effect on the fragile Central Park ecosystem. — Emma Gometz, Scientific American, 7 Aug. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonnative
  1. foreign
  2. stranger
  3. foreigner
  4. alien
Adjective
  • Beirut's private-press scene has little in common with the studio culture of ’80s Tokyo, where an abundance of resources and technology filtered the same foreign influences into something more perfect and polished.
    — Shy Clara Thompson, Pitchfork, 23 Oct. 2026
  • Reuters reported that Tesla’s work in China could also complicate things, as Starlink technology is used in foreign conflicts and the company has a relationship with the Pentagon.
    — Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of foreign
Noun
  • The richest man in America, Elon Musk, has also at times appeared to have the thinnest skin, and embodies a generation of tech figures obsessed by what strangers say about them on social media.
    — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 26 Oct. 2026
  • Lana Del Rey helped out a stranger in Los Angeles in a recent moment soundtracked by Tate McRae.
    — Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 26 Oct. 2026
Definition of stranger
Noun
  • The president said none of them had permission to operate in Mexico and that the military was unaware of the foreigners’ presence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Petit laid down the law on immigration, welcoming foreigners who respect France while telling agitators who hate the nation that nobody wants them around.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of foreigner
Noun
  • He was arrested on Monday and charged with a misdemeanor offense of voting by an alien in a federal election.
    — Sharon Bernstein, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • She is soon proved wrong when the suspect (an alien) self-detonates.
    — Jennifer Ouellette, ArsTechnica, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of alien

Browse Nearby Words

nonnational
nonnative
nonnatives
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Cite this Entry

“Nonnative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonnative. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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