nativity

noun

na·​tiv·​i·​ty nə-ˈti-və-tē 

nā-

plural nativities

1

: the process or circumstances of being born : birth

especially, Nativity : the birth of Jesus

2

: a horoscope at or of the time of one's birth

3

: the place of origin

Did you know?

Nativity is one of many words born of the Latin verb nāscī, which means “to be born.” The gestation of the word was a long one. Nāscī developed in Late Latin into nativitas, meaning “birth,” which passed through Anglo-French as nativité before entering English in the 14th century. Nativity has many siblings and cousins in our language; other terms of the lineage of nāscī include nature, innate, nascent, native, and renaissance.

Synonyms

• birth
• geniture

Examples of nativity in a Sentence

my father and grandparents were proud observers of my nativity

Recent Examples on the Web

Drive-through live nativity scene, Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 522 Castle Heights Avenue, Lebanon: 7-8:30 p.m., Dec. 20-21: Journey to Bethlehem is a free event with live animals and actors. —Andy Humbles, The Tennessean, 13 Dec. 2024

Many town squares across the nation prominently displayed nativities. —Stephan Pechdimaldji, Newsweek, 13 Dec. 2024

The figurine was reported as stolen on Dec. 15 from a nativity scene managed by a local management company on Old Town Square in Fort Collins, Colorado, just outside of Denver, a Fort Collins Police Service spokesperson told USA TODAY. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 27 Dec. 2024

The statuette was taken from the Old Town Square nativity scene on Sunday, Dec. 15, according to a social media post shared by the Fort Collins Police. —Abigail Adams, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English nativite, from Anglo-French nativité, from Medieval Latin nativitat-, nativitas, from Late Latin, birth, from Latin nativus

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!

Kids Definition

nativity

noun

na·​tiv·​i·​ty nə-ˈtiv-ət-ē 

nā-

plural nativities

1

capitalized : the birth of Jesus

2

: the time, place, or manner of being born : birth