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 Aedes aegypti mosquito is an non-native species that is known for aggressive biting during the day and can transmit several different diseases.
—Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
The non-native mammals have wreaked havoc on indigenous birds and voles since their arrival on the Scottish islands 15 years ago.
—Abby Wilson, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Native American Woman Vanished from Reservation in 2020, FBI Offers $10,000 Reward for Information
As a child, Johnson-Davis was removed from her family’s home and put in the foster home of a non-native family, her sister Blouin says.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
This annual tradition is not just about culling these toxic, non-native amphibians, but also about reclaiming a natural balance that was once upended by one of the greatest ecological missteps in the nation's history.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for non-native 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Nollyanne Delacruz, The Mercury News, 16 Nov. 2024
The non-native mammals have wreaked havoc on indigenous birds and voles since their arrival on the Scottish islands 15 years ago.
—Abby Wilson, theweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Native American Woman Vanished from Reservation in 2020, FBI Offers $10,000 Reward for Information
As a child, Johnson-Davis was removed from her family’s home and put in the foster home of a non-native family, her sister Blouin says.
—Samira Asma-Sadeque, People.com, 2 Nov. 2024
This annual tradition is not just about culling these toxic, non-native amphibians, but also about reclaiming a natural balance that was once upended by one of the greatest ecological missteps in the nation's history.
—Scott Travers, Forbes, 30 Oct. 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 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share