Native vs. Home — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 17, 2023
Native refers to being indigenous or born in a particular place, while Home denotes a place of residence or origin.
Difference Between Native and Home
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Native is often used to describe something or someone as originating from a particular place or environment. For instance, a person born in America might be described as a native American. On the other hand, Home is a term that denotes a place where someone lives or feels a strong emotional connection. While a person's native country might be India, their home could be in New York if they've settled and built a life there.
In another context, Native plants or animals are those species that have originated and evolved in a specific region over a long period. These species are adapted to the local environment and conditions. Conversely, Home refers to the habitat or environment where a species typically resides. So, while a lion is native to Africa, its home could be the Savannah.
Native also implies a certain authenticity or purity related to origin. For example, native traditions or languages are those that have been passed down within a particular community or region over generations. Home, in contrast, brings forth feelings of comfort, belonging, and identity. It's not just a physical space but also an emotional and psychological sanctuary.
From a technological standpoint, Native apps or software are designed for a specific platform or device. They are built to function optimally within that specific environment. Home page, in the world of the web, refers to the main page of a website, serving as the starting point or "home" for users.
Lastly, being Native to a culture or community implies a deep-rooted connection, often by birth or descent. It involves shared histories, values, and experiences. Home, however, transcends birthplace. It encapsulates where one's heart is, where one finds solace, and where one's memories reside.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Indigenous or born in a particular place.
A place of residence or origin.
Contextual Usage
Relating to origin or authenticity.
Denoting residence, comfort, or belonging.
Application in Nature
Species originating from a specific region.
Habitat or environment where a species typically resides.
Technological Reference
Apps or software designed for a specific platform.
The main page of a website.
Emotional Connotation
Connection by birth or descent.
Where one feels a sense of belonging and comfort.
Compare with Definitions
Native
Of, belonging to, or characteristic of such inhabitants
Native dress.
The native diet of Polynesia.
Home
A location of origin or upbringing.
Though she traveled the world, Paris remained her home.
Native
Pertaining to one's birthplace or origin.
She's a native New Yorker but now lives in California.
Home
A safe or comforting environment.
After a long trip, it feels good to be home.
Native
Indigenous to a particular area or environment.
The kangaroo is native to Australia.
Home
The primary or starting point in a system.
Click here to return to the home page.
Native
Inherent or innate.
His native talent for music was evident from a young age.
Home
A home, or domicile, is a space used as a permanent or semi-permanent residence for an individual, group or family. It is a fully or semi sheltered space and can have both interior and exterior aspects to it.
Native
Being such by birth or origin
A native Scot.
Home
The place where one lives permanently, especially as a member of a family or household
The floods forced many people to flee their homes
I was nineteen when I left home and went to college
Native
Being a member of the original inhabitants of a particular place.
Home
An institution for people needing professional care or supervision
An old people's home
Native
Being one's own because of the place or circumstances of one's birth
Our native land.
Home
The finishing point in a race
He was four fences from home
Native
Originating, growing, or produced in a certain place or region; indigenous
A plant native to Asia.
Home
Relating to the place where one lives
I don't have your home address
Native
Occurring in nature pure or uncombined with other substances
Native copper.
Home
(of a sports fixture) played at the team's own ground
A home win
Their first home match of the season
Native
Existing in or belonging to one by nature; innate
Her native intelligence.
Home
Denoting the administrative centre of an organization
The company has moved its home office
Native
Natural, unaltered, or unadorned
Native beauty.
Home
To or at the place where one lives
What time did he get home last night?
Native
(Biochemistry) Of or relating to the naturally occurring conformation of a macromolecule, such as a protein.
Home
(of an animal) return by instinct to its territory after leaving it
A dozen geese homing to their summer nesting grounds
Native
(Archaic) Closely related, as by birth or race.
Home
Move or be aimed towards (a target or destination) with great accuracy
More than 100 missiles were launched, homing in on radar emissions
Native
One born in or connected with a place by birth
A native of Scotland now living in the United States.
Home
Provide (an animal) with a home as a pet
Each year thousands of cats which could have been homed are being needlessly put down
Native
One of the original inhabitants or lifelong residents of a place.
Home
A place where one lives; a residence.
Native
An animal or plant that originated in a particular place or region.
Home
The physical structure within which one lives, such as a house or apartment.
Native
Belonging to one by birth.
This is my native land.
English is not my native language.
I need a volunteer native New Yorker for my next joke…
Home
A dwelling place together with the family or social unit that occupies it; a household.
Native
Characteristic of or relating to people inhabiting a region from prehistoric times.
What are now called ‘Native Americans’ used to be called Indians.
The native peoples of Australia are called aborigines.
Home
An environment offering security and happiness.
Native
Alternative case form of Native.
Home
A valued place regarded as a refuge or place of origin.
Native
Born or grown in the region in which it lives or is found; not foreign or imported.
A native inhabitant
Native oysters or strawberries
Many native artists studied abroad.
Home
The place, such as a country or town, where one was born or has lived for a long period.
Native
Which occurs of its own accord in a given locality, to be contrasted with a species introduced by humans.
The naturalized Norway maple often outcompetes the native North American sugar maple.
Home
The native habitat, as of a plant or animal.
Native
Pertaining to the system or architecture in question.
This is a native back-end to gather the latest news feeds.
The native integer size is sixteen bits.
Cloud native, crypto native
Home
The place where something is discovered, founded, developed, or promoted; a source.
Native
(mineralogy) Occurring naturally in its pure or uncombined form.
Native aluminium, native salt
Home
A headquarters; a home base.
Native
Arising by birth; having an origin; born.
Home
(Baseball) Home plate.
Native
Original; constituting the original substance of anything.
Native dust
Home
(Games) Home base.
Native
Naturally related; cognate; connected (with).
Home
An institution where people are cared for
A home for the elderly.
Native
A person who is native to a place; a person who was born in a place.
Home
The starting position of the cursor on a text-based computer display, usually in the upper left corner of the screen.
Native
(in particular) A person of aboriginal descent, as distinguished from a person who was or whose ancestors were foreigners or settlers/colonizers. Native.
Home
A starting position within a computer application, such as the beginning of a line, file, or screen or the top of a chart or list.
Native
A native speaker.
Home
Of or relating to a home, especially to one's household or house
Home cooking.
Home furnishings.
Native
Ostrea edulis, a kind of oyster.
Home
Taking place in the home
Home care for the elderly.
Native
Arising by birth; having an origin; born.
Anaximander's opinion is, that the gods are native, rising and vanishing again in long periods of times.
Home
Of, relating to, or being a place of origin or headquarters
The home office.
Native
Of or pertaining to one's birth; natal; belonging to the place or the circumstances in which one is born; - opposed to foreign; as, native land, language, color, etc.
Home
(Sports) Relating to a team's sponsoring institution or to the place where it is franchised
A home game.
The home field advantage.
Native
Born in the region in which one lives; as, a native inhabitant, race; grown or originating in the region where used or sold; not foreign or imported; as, native oysters, or strawberries. In the latter sense, synonymous with domestic.
Home
Of, relating to, or being the keys used as base positions for the fingers in touch-typing
The home row on a standard keyboard consists of the keys for A, S, D, F, J, K, L,.
, and '.
Native
Original; constituting the original substance of anything; as, native dust.
Home
At, to, or toward the direction of home
Going home for lunch.
Native
Conferred by birth; derived from origin; born with one; inherent; inborn; not acquired; as, native genius, cheerfulness, wit, simplicity, rights, intelligence, etc. Having the same meaning as congenital, but typically used for positive qualities, whereas congenital may be used for negative qualities. See also congenital
Courage is native to you.
Home
On or into the point at which something is directed
The arrow struck home.
Native
Naturally related; cognate; connected (with).
The head is not more native to the heart, . . . Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.
Home
To the center or heart of something; deeply
Your comments really hit home.
Native
Found in nature uncombined with other elements; as, native silver, copper, gold.
Home
To go or return to one's residence or base of operations.
Native
One who, or that which, is born in a place or country referred to; a denizen by birth; an animal, a fruit, or vegetable, produced in a certain region; as, a native of France; the natives are restless.
Home
To guide (a missile or aircraft) to a target.
Native
Any of the live stock found in a region, as distinguished from such as belong to pure and distinct imported breeds.
Home
To arrange to have (an animal) placed in a home.
Native
A person who was born in a particular place; an indigenous person
Home
To take (an animal) into one's home.
Native
Being such by origin;
The native North American sugar maple
Many native artists studied abroad
Home
A dwelling.
Native
Belonging to one by birth;
My native land
One's native language
Home
One’s own dwelling place; the house or structure in which one lives; especially the house in which one lives with one's family; the habitual abode of one’s family.
Native
Being or composed of people inhabiting a region from the beginning;
Native Americans
The aboriginal peoples of Australia
Home
The place (residence, settlement, country, etc.), where a person was born and/or raised; childhood or parental home; home of one’s parents or guardian.
Does she still live at home? - No, she moved out and got an apartment when she was 18, but she still lives in the city.
Native
As found in nature in the elemental form;
Native copper
Home
The abiding place of the affections, especially of the domestic affections.
Native
Normally existing at birth;
Mankind's connatural sense of the good
Home
A house that has been made home-like, to suit the comfort of those who live there.
It's what you bring into a house that makes it a home
Native
Original or authentic to a particular culture or tradition.
The festival celebrates the native customs of the region.
Home
A place of refuge, rest or care; an asylum.
A home for outcasts
A home for the blind
A veterans' home
Instead of a pet store, get your new dog from the local dogs’ home.
Native
Developed specifically for a particular platform or system.
The game is a native application for iOS devices.
Home
(by extension) The grave; the final rest; also, the native and eternal dwelling place of the soul.
Home
One’s native land; the place or country in which one dwells; the place where one’s ancestors dwell or dwelt.
Home
The locality where a thing is usually found, or was first found, or where it is naturally abundant; habitat; seat.
The home of the pine
Home
A focus point.
Home
(board games) The ultimate point aimed at in a progress; the goal.
The object of Sorry! is to get all four of your pawns to your home.
Home
(baseball) Home plate.
Home
(lacrosse) The place of a player in front of an opponent’s goal; also, the player.
Home
(Internet) The landing page of a website; the site's homepage.
Home
The chord at which a melody starts and to which it can resolve.
Home
Clipping of home directory
Home
To return to its owner.
The dog homed.
Home
To seek or aim for something.
The missile was able to home in on the target.
Home
Of, from, or pertaining to one’s dwelling or country; domestic; not foreign
Home
That strikes home; direct, pointed.
A home truth
Home
(obsolete) Personal, intimate.
Home
(sports) Relating to the home team (the team at whose venue a game is played).
The home end, home advantage, home supporters
Home
To one's home
Home
To one's place of residence or one's customary or official location
Go home
Come home
Carry someone home
Home
To one's place of birth
Home
To the place where it belongs; to the end of a course; to the full length
She drove the nail home
Ram a cartridge home
Home
(internet) To the home page
Click here to go home.
Home
At or in one's place of residence or one's customary or official location; at home
Everyone's gone to watch the game; there's nobody home.
I'm home!
Home
To a full and intimate degree; to the heart of the matter; fully, directly.
Home
Into the goal
Home
(nautical) into the right, proper or stowed position
Sails sheeted home
Home
See Homelyn.
Home
One's own dwelling place; the house in which one lives; esp., the house in which one lives with his family; the habitual abode of one's family; also, one's birthplace.
The disciples went away again to their own home.
Home is the sacred refuge of our life.
Home! home! sweet, sweet home!There's no place like home.
Home
One's native land; the place or country in which one dwells; the place where one's ancestors dwell or dwelt.
Home
The abiding place of the affections, especially of the domestic affections.
He entered in his house - his home no more,For without hearts there is no home.
Home
The locality where a thing is usually found, or was first found, or where it is naturally abundant; habitat; seat; as, the home of the pine.
Her eyes are homes of silent prayer.
Flandria, by plenty made the home of war.
Home
A place of refuge and rest; an asylum; as, a home for outcasts; a home for the blind; hence, esp., the grave; the final rest; also, the native and eternal dwelling place of the soul.
Man goeth to his long home, and the mourners go about the streets.
Home
The home base; as, he started for home.
Home
Of or pertaining to one's dwelling or country; domestic; not foreign; as home manufactures; home comforts.
Home
Close; personal; pointed; as, a home thrust.
Home
In various games, the ultimate point aimed at in a progress; goal
Home
To one's home or country; as in the phrases, go home, come home, carry home.
Home
Close; closely.
How home the charge reaches us, has been made out.
They come home to men's business and bosoms.
Home
To the place where it belongs; to the end of a course; to the full length; as, to drive a nail home; to ram a cartridge home.
Wear thy good rapier bare and put it home.
Home
To return home.
Home
To proceed toward an object or location intended as a target; - of missiles which can change course in flight under internal or external control; usually used with in on; as, the missile homed in on the radar site.
Home
To arrive at or get closer to an object sought or an intended goal; used with in on; as, the repairman quickly homed in on the cause of the malfunction.
Home
Where you live at a particular time;
Deliver the package to my home
He doesn't have a home to go to
Your place or mine?
Home
Housing that someone is living in;
He built a modest dwelling near the pond
They raise money to provide homes for the homeless
Home
The country or state or city where you live;
Canadian tariffs enabled United States lumber companies to raise prices at home
His home is New Jersey
Home
An environment offering affection and security;
Home is where the heart is
He grew up in a good Christian home
There's no place like home
Home
An institution where people are cared for;
A home for the elderly
Home
The place where you are stationed and from which missions start and end
Home
A social unit living together;
He moved his family to Virginia
It was a good Christian household
I waited until the whole house was asleep
The teacher asked how many people made up his home
Home
(baseball) base consisting of a rubber slab where the batter stands; it must be touched by a base runner in order to score;
He ruled that the runner failed to touch home
Home
Place where something began and flourished;
The United States is the home of basketball
Home
Provide with, or send to, a home
Home
Return home accurately from a long distance;
Homing pigeons
Home
Used of your own ground;
A home game
Home
Relating to or being where one lives or where one's roots are;
My home town
Home
Inside the country;
The British Home Office has broader responsibilities than the United States Department of the Interior
The nation's internal politics
Home
At or to or in the direction of one's home or family;
He stays home on weekends
After the game the children brought friends home for supper
I'll be home tomorrow
Came riding home in style
I hope you will come home for Christmas
I'll take her home
Don't forget to write home
Home
On or to the point aimed at;
The arrow struck home
Home
To the fullest extent; to the heart;
Drove the nail home
Drove his point home
His comments hit home
Home
A place where someone lives.
They bought their first home in the suburbs.
Home
A place of business or headquarters.
The company's home office is in Chicago.
Common Curiosities
What's a "native language"?
A native language is the first language a person learns and is usually spoken in their family or region of birth.
What does "native" generally refer to?
Native often refers to being indigenous or originating from a particular place or environment.
Can "home" refer to non-physical places?
Yes, "home" can also signify emotional or psychological spaces where one feels comfort or belonging.
Can someone have multiple "homes"?
Yes, people can feel a sense of home in multiple places based on memories, connections, or significant life events.
Can "native" imply authenticity?
Yes, "native" can denote something as original, authentic, or unadulterated in a particular context.
Is "home" always a positive term?
Mostly, but context matters. In some contexts, "home" might evoke negative memories or associations.
How is "home" different from a house?
While a house refers to a physical building, "home" encompasses the emotional and personal connection one feels to a place.
How does "native" relate to plants and animals?
In biology, native species are those that originate and have evolved in a specific region.
What's a "home page" in terms of the internet?
A home page is the main or starting page of a website.
Can "native" refer to digital applications?
Yes, native apps are software applications built specifically for a particular platform or device.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
