native meaning and definition

NATIVE noun

Definition of native (noun)

1. an indigenous person who was born in a particular place
   • "the art of the natives of the northwest coast"; "the Canadian government scrapped plans to tax the grants to aboriginal college students"
   • synonyms: aboriginal, aborigine, indigen, indigene
2. a person born in a particular place or country
   • "he is a native of Brazil"
3. indigenous plants and animals

NATIVE adjective

Definition of native (adjective)

1. characteristic of or existing by virtue of geographic origin
   • "the native North American sugar maple"; "many native artists studied abroad"
   • antonym: foreign
2. belonging to one by birth
   • "my native land"; "one's native language"
   • antonym: adopted
3. characteristic of or relating to people inhabiting a region from the beginning
   • "native Americans"; "the aboriginal peoples of Australia"
   • synonyms: aboriginal
   • antonym: nonnative
4. as found in nature in the elemental form
   • "native copper"