nativism

1 of 3

noun (1)

na·​tiv·​ism ˈnā-ti-ˌvi-zəm 

1

: a policy of favoring native inhabitants as opposed to immigrants

2

: the revival or perpetuation of an Indigenous culture especially in opposition to acculturation

nativist

ˈnā-ti-vist 

noun or adjective

nativistic

ˌnā-ti-ˈvi-stik 

adjective

nativist

2 of 3

noun (2)

na·​tiv·​ist -və̇st 

plural -s

: one who believes in or advocates nativism

a bigoted nativist who published feverish anti-immigration and anti-Catholic tracts

—Marshall Davidson

nativist

3 of 3

adjective

"

1

: of, having the characteristics of, or supporting political nativism

the die-hard Know-Nothings … were both nativist and proslavery

—M. M. Hunt

old nativist prejudice against the … foreign businessman

—Springfield (Massachusetts) Republican

2

: of, relating to, or composed of nativists

nativist rural audiences in the south

—W. G. Carleton

Examples of nativism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The United States had plenty of experience with nativism before 9/11. — Daniel Benjamin, Foreign Affairs, 11 Sep. 2026

Latinos have been not only frequent targets of nativism and xenophobic violence but also supporters — regularly enforcers — of it. — Eladio Bobadilla, Mercury News, 6 Aug. 2026

Their ideology feeds off nativism and an opposition to diversity. — Literary Hub, 28 July 2026

Advertisement The journalists Crystal Eastman and Randolph Bourne argued similarly amid the nativism and nationalism of the First World War, a time not unlike our own. — Dominic Erdozain, Time, 3 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (2)

native entry 1 + -ist

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1844, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for nativism

• autism
• fascism
• racism
• sikhism
• sophism
• statism
• sufism
• thomism
• tourism
• tropism
• abolitionism
• aldosteronism