ENGLISH
REFERENCE

natives

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈneɪtɪvz// UK //nˈeɪtɪvz// na·tives

n. people who were born in a particular place. You use this to talk about the original inhabitants of a country or the local people in a city.

n. the original inhabitants of a specific region or country, or people born and raised in a particular locality. Often carries colonial connotations when used by outsiders; modern usage frequently prefers more specific terms like 'indigenous peoples' or 'locals'.


SIMPLE

The natives of this island have a unique language.

CONTEXTUAL

After living in the city for ten years, she finally felt like one of the natives.

COMPLEX

The documentary explores how the natives of the Amazon basin have adapted their traditional agricultural techniques to combat the effects of rapid climate change.

Synonyms
Usage

Usually plural when referring to a group of people; can be sensitive or offensive in colonial contexts.

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