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innate

in·nate

UK/ɪˈneɪt/ US/ˌɪˈneɪt/ uncommon obsolete

adjective

1.

not established by conditioning or learning

  • “an unconditioned reflex”
Synonyms
Antonyms
2.

being talented through inherited qualities

  • “a natural leader”
  • “a born musician”
  • “an innate talent”
Synonyms
Similar
3.

Origin

The adjective is first attested in the 1420s, the verb in 1602; from Middle English innat(e) (“innate, inborn”), borrowed from Latin innātus (“inborn, innate”) (see -ate (adjective-forming suffix)), perfect active participle of innāscor (“to be born in, grow up in”), from in- (“in, at on”) + nāscor (“to be born”); see natal, native. The verb is derived from the adjective, see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Phrases

  • a priori
  • innate immune system
  • innate immunity
  • run in the family

Related words

Word family

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.