native 1 of 2

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
In 1998, Rodriguez, back in his native San Marcos, shot and killed 28-year-old Israel Borrego. Anna Kaufman, USA Today, 15 May 2025 And her team has made sure her voice can travel to as many corners of the planet as possible, especially on her native continent. Heran Mamo, Billboard, 14 May 2025
Noun
Some of the names may be familiar from the roads and places named for them — such as Army Private First Class Emory L. Bennett, a New Smyrna Beach native who died in Korea in an act of extraordinary courage, standing alone to draw enemy fire while the rest of his company retreated to safety. Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 26 May 2025 This Florida native is cold hardy to 20°F and can be overwintered indoors in cooler regions. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 25 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for native
Recent Examples of Synonyms for native
Adjective
  • Collaborating with local indigenous communities to find and document animals such as the woolly rat is crucial to help strengthen biodiversity and conservation efforts, and what is needed to protect them from outside threats.
    Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 21 May 2025
  • However, the true targets were often indigenous leaders, anti-mining advocates, environmental restoration campaigners, and community organizers.
    Charlie Campbell, Time, 16 May 2025
Adjective
  • Such a fund holds derivatives tied to the prices of a basket of physical assets—crude oil, natural gas, precious metals, base metals, grains, livestock.
    William Baldwin, Forbes.com, 24 May 2025
  • Subscribe The core inflation is expected to ease in the coming months due to lower crude oil prices and the yen’s appreciation, said Masato Koike, economist at Sompo Institute Plus.
    Anniek Bao, CNBC, 22 May 2025
Adjective
  • Loro Piana’s connection to the equestrian world was inherent from the very beginning, with brothers Pier Luigi and Sergio Loro Piana, the former co-owners of the Maison, both passoniate riders.
    Felicity Carter, Forbes.com, 27 May 2025
  • On the contrary, the power of the purse is reserved to Congress, and the President has no inherent authority to override Congress's will on domestic spending decisions.
    ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 27 May 2025
Noun
  • Our partners in the U.S. Coast Guard facilitated a safe and efficient transport of the alien offenders off Nantucket and Martha's Vineyard, ensuring the safety of the residents of those communities.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
  • Ways to stay safe during a flood according to the NWS For either residents or campers of flood-prone, low-lying areas, take immediate action and seek higher ground.
    STAR-TELEGRAM WEATHER BOT, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 May 2025
Noun
  • The Guanches were aborigines of the Canary Islands.
    JP Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
  • Breuil based his conclusions on contemporary anthropological observations of the Arunta aborigines in central Australia.
    Roger Lewin, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
Adjective
  • The evolutionary anthropologist Joseph Henrich has summoned the example of the aboriginal Tasmanians, who were cut off from mainland Australia about ten thousand years ago.
    Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Before the colonization of Australia, many aboriginal people buried dingoes with rites indistinguishable from those used for humans.
    Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024
Adjective
  • Thus, the founder set about building a line of functional, luxurious yet functional, holistic, and natural pet lifestyle products.
    Malana VanTyler, USA Today, 22 May 2025
  • The rugged limestone walls reached to a ceiling with natural skylights, from which aerial roots of ficus trees hung like decorative drapery.
    Erik Trinidad, Travel + Leisure, 21 May 2025
Adjective
  • That journey is rooted in aligning their personal growth with organizational goals—and it must be shaped by intrinsic motivation, not fear, force or obligation.
    Dr. Monika Sumra, Forbes.com, 20 May 2025
  • Wex Payments company Wex is trading far below its intrinsic value and has the potential to more than double in the next three to five years, according to Impactive Capital co-founder and managing partner Lauren Taylor Wolfe.
    Pia Singh,Yun Li, CNBC, 14 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Native.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/native. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.

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