n.
- a person born in a specified place or associated with a place by birth.
▸a local inhabitant.
- an animal or plant indigenous to a place.
- dated, often offensive a non-white original inhabitant of a country as regarded by European colonists or travellers.
adj.
- associated with the place or circumstances of a person's birth.
▸of the indigenous inhabitants of a place.
- (of a plant or animal) of indigenous origin or growth.
- innate; in a person's character:
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native wit.
- (of a metal or other mineral) found in a pure or uncombined state.
Phrase
- go native
derogatory (of a person living abroad) adopt the way of life of the country one is living in.
Derivative
- natively adv.
- nativeness n.
Usage
In contexts such as a native of Boston or New York was too hot even for the natives, the use of the noun native is quite acceptable. When used to refer to non-white original inhabitants of a country, however, it has an old-fashioned feel and may cause offence.
Etymology
ME: from L. nativus, from nat-, nasci ‘be born’.
