adjective

1. inborn or innate rather than acquired
2. belonging to a locality or country by birth, production, or growth; indigenous a native Bostonian, native industry, native plants
3. related to one as, or in connection with, the place of one's birth or origin one's native land, one's native language
4. simple; natural; free from affectation
5. as found in nature; natural and not refined, adorned, or altered by man
6. occurring in a pure state in nature native gold
7. of or characteristic of the natives, or indigenous inhabitants, of a place
8. Native American Native land rights

Etymology: ME natyf < MFr natif < L nativus < natus, born: see nature

noun

1. a person born in the place or country indicated
2. 1. an original or indigenous inhabitant of a region, as distinguished from an invader, explorer, colonist, etc.
   2. an indigenous plant or animal
3. a permanent resident, as distinguished from a temporary resident or visitor