adjective / noun
native
NAY-tiv/ˈneɪtɪv/
Originating or belonging naturally in a particular place.
The native oak sapling grows among mature trees of the same local species.
Etymology
Native originally described something inborn or produced by birth. Applied to a place, that connection became belonging there through birth or natural origin, as in someone's native land.
In context
The copper used in its construction had a trace element profile that matched the native copper of the Kuino region, confirming local origin of the raw material.
More examples
- These turtles are native to the southeastern United States.
- A Chicago native, she knows the city's neighborhoods well.
- The museum displays work by Native artists from nearby tribes.
Forms
native · natives
Similar words
- indigenous
- Emphasizes original inhabitants or species occurring naturally in a region.
- local
- Means nearby or based there, without necessarily originating there.
- endemic
- Describes species naturally restricted to one particular geographic area.