— nativist , n. , adj. — nativistic , adj.
/nay"ti viz'euhm/ , n.
1. the policy of protecting the interests of native inhabitants against those of immigrants.
2. the policy or practice of preserving or reviving an indigenous culture.
3. Philos. the doctrine that innate ideas exist.
4. See innateness hypothesis .
[ 1835-45, Amer.; NATIVE + -ISM ]