non-native
adjective
non-na·tive
ˌnän-ˈnā-tiv 
variants
or nonnative
: not native: such as
a
of a plant or animal
: living or growing in a place that is not the location of its natural occurrence
a non-native fish species
… overgrazing causes grasslands to give way to sagebrush, mesquite and non-native exotic grasses, environmentalists contend.—
Doug McInnis
Doug McInnis
b
: not born or raised in the place where a particular language is spoken
non-native inhabitants
a nonnative speaker of English [=a person who speaks English but whose native language is not English]
non-native
noun
or nonnative
plural non-natives or nonnatives
popular among both natives and non-natives
Examples of non-native in a Sentence
nonnative customs that made the recent immigrants stand out in their new country
Recent Examples on the Web
The workshop will include a live demonstration of various arrangements of native, non-native, and invasive plant species.
—Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Nov. 2024
But the species, beset by a combination of overfishing and parasitism by invasive, non-native sea lampreys, began to decline precipitously in number, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
—Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2024
Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, requiring less water, fertilizer and maintenance than non-native species.
—Earl Foster, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Of Cree descent, Rau was part of Canada’s Sixties Scoop, when First Nations children were forcibly removed from their families, sent to residential schools, and adopted by non-native parents.
—Sofia Perez, Saveur, 21 Nov. 2024
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Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 27 Nov. 2024
But the species, beset by a combination of overfishing and parasitism by invasive, non-native sea lampreys, began to decline precipitously in number, according to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
—Steven Martinez, Journal Sentinel, 25 Nov. 2024
Native plants are adapted to the local climate and soil conditions, requiring less water, fertilizer and maintenance than non-native species.
—Earl Foster, Austin American-Statesman, 22 Nov. 2024
Of Cree descent, Rau was part of Canada’s Sixties Scoop, when First Nations children were forcibly removed from their families, sent to residential schools, and adopted by non-native parents.
—Sofia Perez, Saveur, 21 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for non-native
Dictionary Entries Near non-native
Cite this Entry
“Non-native.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/non-native. Accessed 3 Dec. 2024.
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