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 maps found rivers, estuaries and other waterways that had non-native species, and looked at where those waterways mingled with pristine areas because of flooding from storm surge, high tides and inland flooding.
—Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
The workshop will include a live demonstration of various arrangements of native, non-native, and invasive plant species.
—Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
But according to officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state's non-native green iguanas can become immobilized when air temperatures drop to 40 to 50 degrees.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024
As the planet warms, plants and mosses may conquer more and more of the Antarctic landmass, including non-native plant species.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for non-native 
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Bill Kearney, Sun Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
The workshop will include a live demonstration of various arrangements of native, non-native, and invasive plant species.
—Joe Rassel, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Dec. 2024
But according to officials from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, the state's non-native green iguanas can become immobilized when air temperatures drop to 40 to 50 degrees.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA TODAY, 5 Dec. 2024
As the planet warms, plants and mosses may conquer more and more of the Antarctic landmass, including non-native plant species.
—Josh Hammer, Newsweek, 3 Dec. 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 21 Dec. 2024.
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