non-native

adjective

non-na·tive ˌnän-ˈnā-tiv

variants or nonnative

: not native: such as

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

: 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

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.

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