native
word
Definition
A native person, animal, or plant comes from a particular place originally. It can also describe someone who speaks a language as their first language.
Usage & Nuances
Common patterns: 'native speaker', 'native language', 'native to this area'. For plants and animals, 'native to' is very common. For people, 'native' can sound formal or sensitive in some contexts, so 'local', 'from', or specific group names may be better. In tech, 'native app' means built specifically for a system.
Example Sentences
She is a native speaker of English.
basic
The team built a native app instead of a web version.
natural
These plants are native to South America.
basic
He wants to learn from native teachers.
basic
I'm not a native speaker, but I can get by in French.
natural
This bird isn't native here, so people report sightings quickly.
natural