innate
[ ih-neyt, in-eyt ]
/ ɪˈneɪt, ˈɪn eɪt /
adjective
existing in one from birth; inborn; native: innate musical talent.
inherent in the essential character of something: an innate defect in the hypothesis.
originating in or arising from the intellect or the constitution of the mind, rather than learned through experience: an innate knowledge of good and evil.
Origin of innate
SYNONYMS FOR innate
1
natural,
congenital.
Innate,
inborn,
congenital,
hereditary describe qualities, characteristics, or possessions acquired before or at the time of birth.
Innate, of Latin origin, and
inborn, a native English word, share the literal basic sense “existing at the time of birth,” and they are interchangeable in most contexts:
innate (or
inborn )
stodginess, agility, gracefulness.
Congenital refers most often to characteristics acquired during fetal development, especially defects or undesirable conditions:
a congenital deformity; congenital blindness.
Hereditary describes qualities or things passed on from ancestors, either through the genes or by social or legal means:
Hemophilia is a hereditary condition; a hereditary title.
OTHER WORDS FROM innate
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH innate
inchoate innate (see synonym study at the current entry)Words nearby innate
Example sentences from the Web for innate
British Dictionary definitions for innate
innate
/ (ɪˈneɪt, ˈɪneɪt) /
adjective
existing in a person or animal from birth; congenital; inborn
being an essential part of the character of a person or thing
instinctive; not learned
innate capacities
botany
(of anthers) joined to the filament by the base only
(in rationalist philosophy) (of ideas) present in the mind before any experience and knowable by pure reason
Derived forms of innate
innately, adverb innateness, nounWord Origin for innate
C15: from Latin, from
innascī to be born in, from
nascī to be born
Medical definitions for innate
innate
[ ĭ-nāt′, ĭn′āt′ ]
adj.
Possessed at birth; inborn.