noun
- the quality of being innate; the state of existing naturally from birth rather than being learned or acquired
Usage: formal; often used in philosophical and psychological contexts
Examples
- The debate over the innateness of language ability continues among linguists.
- Researchers studied the innateness of moral intuitions in young children.
- The innateness of certain mathematical concepts has been questioned by educators.
- Philosophers have long argued about the innateness of human knowledge.
- The study examined the innateness versus learned nature of fear responses.
- Critics challenged the theory’s assumption about the innateness of gender differences.