Innate

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ɪˈneɪt/
• Rhymes: -eɪt

Origin

From Latin innātus ("inborn"), perfect active participle of innāscor ("be born in, grow up in"), from in ("in, at on") + nāscor ("be born"); see natal, native.

Full definition of innate

Adjective

1. Inborn; native; natural; as, innate vigor; innate eloquence.
2. Originating in, or derived from, the constitution of the intellect, as opposed to acquired from experience; as, innate ideas. See a priori, intuitive.
• SouthThere is an innate light in every man, discovering to him the first lines of duty in the common notions of good and evil.
• John Lockehow men ... may attain to all the knowledge they have, without the help of any innate impressions
3. (botany) Joined by the base to the very tip of a filament; as, an innate anther.

Usage notes

Nouns often used with "innate": knowledge, idea, immunity, etc.

Synonyms

Derived terms

• innateness

Related terms

• antenatal
• nascent
• natal
• native
• nativism
• natural
• nature
• naturism
• naturalism
• prenatal

Verb

1. To cause to exist; to call into being.

Anagrams

• annite, ante in, nanite