26984 words

native

12 definitions • 18 examples
1
relating to or describing someone's country or place of birth or someone who was born in a particular country or place:

Examples:

She returned to live and work in her native Japan.
She's a native Californian.
2
used to refer to plants and animals that grow naturally in a place, and have not been brought there from somewhere else:

Examples:

Henderson Island in the Pacific has more than 55 species of native flowering plants.
The horse is not native to America - it was introduced by the Spanish.
3
relating to the first people to live in an area:

Examples:

The Aborigines are the native inhabitants of Australia.
the native population
native customs and traditions
4
the first language that someone learns:

Examples:

French is his native tongue.
5
the country in which someone was born and lived while young:

Examples:

Our enemies have attacked us on our native soil, killing thousands.
The team's players seemed glad to be back on their native soil.
6
A native ability or characteristic is one that a person or thing has naturally and is part of their basic character:

Examples:

his native wit
7
a person who was born in a particular place, or a plant or animal that lives or grows naturally in a place and has not been brought from somewhere else:

Examples:

a native of Monaco
The red squirrel is a native of Britain.
8
an extremely offensive word for someone who lived in a country, especially in Africa, before Europeans went there
9
of or relating to the place where you were born:

Examples:

This was his first visit to his native land in 30 years.
Larry is a native Texan (= He was born in Texas).
His native language is Spanish, but he speaks English without a trace of an accent.
10
Someone or something native to a place was born or started to develop there:

Examples:

Corn is native to North America.
11
a person born in a particular place:

Examples:

He was a native of Indianapolis and a graduate of Indiana University.
12
dated A native is also a person who was born and lived in a country before Europeans began to visit and live there:

Navigation