native
[adjective]
Synonyms:
- local, domestic, home, indigenous
- inborn, congenital, hereditary, inbred, ingrained, innate, instinctive, intrinsic, natural
[noun]
Synonyms:
- inhabitant, aborigine, citizen, countryman, dweller, national, resident

---

Antonyms: alien, foreign, nonnative
Contrasted words: adopted, introduced, naturalized
Related Words: domestic, local

---

English Thesaurus: citizen, national, resident, native, subject, ...

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

I. na‧tive¹ S3 W3 /ˈneɪtɪv/ adjective
[Date: 1300-1400; Language: French; Origin: natif, from Latin nativus, from natus; ⇒ nation]

1. COUNTRY [only before noun] your native country, town etc is the place where you were born ⇒ home:
They never saw their native land again.
He spent most of his professional life outside his native Poland.

2. native New Yorker/population/inhabitants etc a person or people who come from or have always lived in a particular place

3. native language/tongue the language you spoke when you first learned to speak Synonym : first language:
English is not the native language for almost half of our overseas visitors.

4. PLANT/ANIMAL growing, living, produced etc in one particular place Synonym : indigenous:
Singapore has many native species of palm.
native to
These fish are native to North America.

5. ART/CUSTOM [only before noun] native customs, traditions etc are related to people who lived in a particular country before European people arrived there:
the native traditions of Peru
stalls selling native jewelry
native folklore

6. NATURAL [only before noun] a native ability is one that you have naturally from birth:
her native wit

7. go native to behave, dress, or speak like the people who live in the country where you have come to stay or work – used humorously:
Austen has been living in New Guinea so long he’s gone native.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

II. native² noun [countable]

1. a person who was born in a particular place
native of
a native of Switzerland

2. someone who lives in a place all the time or has lived there a long time
native of
He has become a native of Glasgow.

3. [usually plural] not polite a word used by white people in the past to refer to the people who lived in America, Africa, southern Asia etc before European people arrived, now considered offensive:
He was not certain whether the natives were friendly.

4. a plant or animal that grows or lives naturally in a place
native of
The bear was once a native of Britain.

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

native
noun
BAD: The airport extension is strongly opposed by the natives.
GOOD: The airport extension is strongly opposed by the local residents.

Usage Note:
Nowadays the noun native is usually used in formal styles to refer to the place where someone was born: 'His real name was Harvey Pepper, a native of Montreal.' or to the country/region where a particular animal or plant has always grown: 'This useful herb is a native of southern Europe, but has adjusted well to colder climates.'
To refer to the people who live in and around a village, town or city, and have shared interests and activities, use local residents , local population or (in informal styles) locals : 'Local residents are against the motorway proposal.'

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲

citizen someone who lives in a particular town, country, or state:
In order to become a US citizen, you need to have a Permanent Resident card.
All British citizens have the right to live in the UK.
Good citizens understand that they have a responsibility to the community.
national a citizen of a country who is living in another country:
She insisted that foreign nationals were safe in the country.
Russians nationals were ordered to leave.
Her husband is a French national.
resident someone who lives in a particular street or area:
There have been complaints by local residents about the building work.
She was a resident of Chicago for many years.
native someone who was born in a particular country but moved to another country – used when describing a person or their life:
Picasso was a native of Spain, although he spent much of his life in France.
subject someone who was born in a country that has a king or queen, and has a right to live there:
Northern Ireland citizens are British subjects.
alien formal someone who is not a legal citizen of the country they are living or working in - used in official contexts:
Employers cannot hire illegal aliens.

[TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲