ˈnād.ə̇ˌvizəm, -ātə̇- noun
( -s )
1. : the attitude or policy of favoring the native inhabitants of a country as against immigrants
forces of racism and nativism — D.S.Myer
a persistent nativism in American politics — D.D.McKean
specifically : such an attitude or policy held by the 19th century Native Americans
the rise of nativism and eventually Know-Nothingism — Wallace Stegner
2.
a. : the doctrine that the mind possesses elements of knowledge not derived from sensation
b. : a theory emphasizing heredity or bodily constitution in determining man's perceptions, attitudes, and behavior — compare empiricism , geneticism
3. : a nativistic reaction of a usually primitive people against acculturation