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 Statesman reported on their overpopulation last year, serving as a cautionary tale for what can happen when a non-native species gets introduced to the environment.
—
Hannah Smith
july 1,
Idaho Statesman,
1 July 2026
No country has ever won the World Cup under a manager or head coach born outside its borders, yet this tournament features more teams with non-native bosses than in any previous edition.
—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
28 June 2026
Although native plants are famous for needing less water than non-natives, even these tough plants may need a bit of extra water during extreme heat.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 June 2026
The district is vigilant about ensuring one thing — that landowners are growing a non-native crop, which the district checks through field visits and by aerial reviews, COID’s Deputy Director of Water Rights Jessi Talbott said in a recent interview.
—
Emily Cureton Cook,
ProPublica,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for non-native
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Hannah Smith
july 1,
Idaho Statesman,
1 July 2026
No country has ever won the World Cup under a manager or head coach born outside its borders, yet this tournament features more teams with non-native bosses than in any previous edition.
—
Gregg Evans,
New York Times,
28 June 2026
Although native plants are famous for needing less water than non-natives, even these tough plants may need a bit of extra water during extreme heat.
—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 June 2026
The district is vigilant about ensuring one thing — that landowners are growing a non-native crop, which the district checks through field visits and by aerial reviews, COID’s Deputy Director of Water Rights Jessi Talbott said in a recent interview.
—
Emily Cureton Cook,
ProPublica,
26 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for non-native
Cite this Entry
“Non-native.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/non-native. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.
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