Meaning & use
nativity
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Meanings
nouncountable
The birth of a person, especially the birth of Jesus as described in the Bible.
Grammar: Often capitalized when referring to Jesus: 'the Nativity'.
Patterns
- the Nativity
- the nativity of Jesus
- a nativity play
The church displayed a painting of the Nativity.
Children performed a nativity play at school before Christmas.
The story of the Nativity is told in the Gospels.
nouncountableformal
The place or situation in which something begins or is created; origin.
Grammar: Used in formal or literary contexts.
Patterns
- the nativity of an idea
- the nativity of a nation
The nativity of the universe is a topic of scientific study.
Historians debate the nativity of the modern state.
nouncountabletechnical
A chart or horoscope showing the positions of the planets at a person's birth.
Grammar: Often in astrology contexts.
Patterns
- cast a nativity
- read someone's nativity
The astrologer cast his nativity to predict his future.
She had her nativity read by a professional astrologer.
Word forms
| plural | nativities |
|---|
Common combinations
- the Nativity story
- The Nativity story is retold every Christmas.
- a nativity scene
- They set up a nativity scene with figures of Mary and Joseph.
- a nativity play
- The school puts on a nativity play every December.
- the nativity of Christ
- The nativity of Christ is celebrated on Christmas Day.
Synonyms and how they differ
- birth
- General word for being born; 'nativity' is more formal and often religious.
- origin
- Focuses on the beginning point rather than the act of birth; used for things, not people.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: nativity or native? nativity or nativism?
nativity vs native
An adjective or noun meaning a person born in a place; 'nativity' is a noun about the birth itself.
nativity vs nativism
A policy of protecting the interests of native-born people against immigrants; not the same as 'nativity'.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'nativity' correctly?
Choose one answer.
The first sentence is correct because 'Nativity' refers to the birth of Jesus, often in art. The second is wrong because 'nativity' is not used for a birthday party. The third is wrong because we don't use 'nativity' for the origin of a car. The fourth is wrong because 'nativity' is not used to mean nationality.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “nativity”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.