The following table describes the fees and expenses that you may pay if you buy and hold shares of the Fund. You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in the Natixis Fund Complex. More information about these and other discounts is available from your financial professional and in the section "How Sales Charges Are Calculated" on page 59 of the Prospectus and on page 106 in the section "Reduced Sales Charges" of the Statement of Additional Information ("SAI").

Shareholder Fees Caption [Text]

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Shareholder Fees(fees paid directly from your investment)

Operating Expenses Caption [Text]

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Annual Fund Operating Expenses(expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Fee Waiver or Reimbursement over Assets, Date of Termination

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January 31, 2013

Portfolio Turnover [Heading]

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Portfolio Turnover

Portfolio Turnover [Text Block]

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The Fund pays transaction costs, such as commissions, when it buys and sells securities (or "turns over" its portfolio). A higher portfolio turnover rate may indicate higher transaction costs and may result in higher taxes for you if your Fund shares are held in a taxable account. These costs, which are not reflected in annual fund operating expenses or in the example, affect the Fund's performance. During its most recently ended fiscal year, the Fund's portfolio turnover rate was 67% of the average value of its portfolio.

Portfolio Turnover, Rate

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67.00%

Expense Breakpoint Discounts [Text]

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You may qualify for sales charge discounts if you and your family invest, or agree to invest in the future, at least $100,000 in the Natixis Fund Complex.

Expense Breakpoint, Minimum Investment Required [Amount]

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100,000

Expense Example [Heading]

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Example

Expense Example Narrative [Text Block]

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This example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. The example assumes that you invest $10,000 in the Fund for the time periods indicated and then redeem all of your shares at the end of those periods (except where indicated). The example also assumes that your investment has a 5% return each year and that the Fund's operating expenses remain the same. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

Expense Example by, Year, Caption [Text]

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If shares are redeemed

Expense Example, No Redemption, By Year, Caption [Text]

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If shares are not redeemed

Strategy [Heading]

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Investments, Risks and Performance Principal Investment Strategies

Strategy Narrative [Text Block]

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Under normal market conditions, the Fund will invest at least 65% of its assets in below investment-grade fixed-income securities (commonly known as "junk bonds"). Below investment-grade fixed-income securities are rated below investment-grade quality (i.e., none of the three major ratings agencies (Moody's Investors Service, Inc. ("Moody's"), Fitch Investors Services, Inc. ("Fitch") or Standard and Poor's Ratings Group ("S&P")), have rated the securities in one of its top four rating categories) or, if the security is unrated, are determined by the Adviser to be of comparable quality. There is no minimum rating for the securities in which the Fund may invest. The Fund will normally invest at least 65% of its assets in U.S. corporate or U.S. dollar-denominated foreign fixed-income securities. The Fund may also invest up to 20% of its assets in foreign currency-denominated fixed-income securities, including those in emerging markets and related currency hedging transactions. The Adviser may elect not to hedge currency risk, which may cause the Fund to incur losses that would not have been incurred had the risk been hedged. The Adviser performs its own extensive credit analysis to determine the creditworthiness and potential for capital appreciation of a security. The Fund's management minimizes both market timing and interest rate forecasting. Instead, it uses a strategy based on gaining a thorough understanding of industry and company dynamics as well as individual security characteristics such as issuer debt and debt maturity schedules, earnings prospects, responsiveness to changes in interest rates, experience and perceived strength of management, borrowing requirements and liquidation value, market price in relation to cash flow, interest and dividends. In deciding which securities to buy and sell, the Adviser will consider, among other things, the financial strength of the issuer, current interest rates, current valuations, the Adviser's expectations regarding future changes in interest rates and comparisons of the level of risk associated with particular investments with the Adviser's expectations concerning the potential return of those investments. In selecting investments for the Fund, the Adviser utilizes the skills of its in-house team of more than 30 research analysts to cover a broad universe of industries, companies and markets. The Fund's portfolio managers take advantage of these extensive resources to identify securities that meet the Fund's investment criteria. The Adviser employs a selection strategy that focuses on a value-driven, bottom-up approach to identify securities that provide an opportunity for both generous yields and capital appreciation. The Adviser analyzes an individual company's potential for positive financial news to determine if it has growth potential. Examples of positive financial news include an upward turn in the business cycle, improvement in cash flows, rising profits or the awarding of new contracts. The Adviser emphasizes in-depth credit analysis, appreciation potential and diversification in its bond selection. Each bond is evaluated to assess the ability of its issuer to pay interest and, ultimately, principal (which helps the Fund generate an ongoing flow of income). The Adviser also assesses a bond's relation to market conditions within its industry and favors bonds whose prices may benefit from positive business developments. The Adviser seeks to diversify the Fund's holdings to reduce the inherent risk in below investment-grade fixed-income securities. In connection with its principal investment strategies, the Fund may also invest in structured notes, zero-coupon securities, pay-in-kind securities, Rule 144A securities, futures and swaps (including credit default swaps). Except as provided above, the Fund is not limited in the percentage of its assets that it may invest in these instruments.

Risk [Heading]

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Principal Risks

Risk Narrative [Text Block]

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The principal risks of investing in the Fund are summarized below. The Fund does not represent a complete investment program. You may lose money by investing in the Fund. Below Investment-Grade Fixed-Income Securities Risk: This is the risk that the Fund's investments in below investment-grade fixed-income securities, also known as "junk bonds," may be subject to greater risks than other fixed-income securities, including being subject to greater levels of interest rate risk, credit risk (including a greater risk of default) and liquidity risk. The ability of the issuer to make principal and interest payments is predominantly speculative for below investment-grade fixed-income securities. Credit Risk: Credit risk is the risk that the issuer or the guarantor of a fixed-income security, or the counterparty to a derivatives or other transaction, will be unable or unwilling to make timely payments of interest or principal or to otherwise honor its obligations. Currency Risk: Fluctuations in the exchange rates between different currencies may negatively affect an investment. The Fund may elect not to hedge currency risk, or may hedge such risk imperfectly, which may cause the Fund to incur losses that would not have been incurred had the risk been hedged.Derivatives Risk: Derivatives are subject to changes in the value of the underlying asset or indices on which such transactions are based. There is no guarantee that the use of derivatives will be effective or that suitable transactions will be available. Even a small investment in derivatives may give rise to leverage risk and can have a significant impact on the Fund's exposure to securities markets values, interest rates or currency exchange rates. It is possible that the Fund's liquid assets may be insufficient to support its obligations under its derivatives positions. The use of derivatives for other than hedging purposes may be considered speculative activity, and involves greater risks than are involved in hedging. The use of derivatives may cause the Fund to incur losses greater than those which would have occurred had derivatives not been used. The Fund's use of derivatives such as forward currency contracts, structured notes, futures transactions and swap transactions involves other risks, such as the credit risk relating to the other party to a derivative contract (which is greater for forward currency contracts, swaps and other over-the-counter traded derivatives), the risk of difficulties in pricing and valuation, the risk that changes in the value of a derivative may not correlate perfectly with relevant assets, rates or indices, liquidity risk, allocation risk and the risk of losing more than the initial margin required to initiate derivatives positions. There is also the risk that the Fund may be unable to terminate or sell a derivatives position at an advantageous time or price. Moreover, a number of broker-dealers and other financial institutions have recently experienced extreme financial difficulty, sometimes resulting in bankruptcy of the institution. Although Loomis Sayles monitors the creditworthiness of the Fund's derivative counterparties, there can be no assurance that the Fund's derivative counterparties will not experience similar financial difficulties, possibly resulting in losses to the Fund. Emerging Markets Risk: Investing in emerging markets companies, which may be smaller and have shorter operating histories than companies in developed markets, involves risks in addition to, and greater than, those generally associated with investing in companies in developed foreign markets. The extent of economic development, political stability, market depth, infrastructure, capitalization and regulatory oversight in emerging market economies is generally less than in more developed markets. Fixed-Income Securities Risk: Fixed-income securities are subject to credit risk, interest rate risk and liquidity risk. You may lose money on your investment due to unpredictable drops in a security's value or periods of below-average performance in a given security or in the securities market as a whole. In addition, an economic downturn or period of rising interest rates could adversely affect the market of these securities and reduce the Fund's ability to sell them. Below investment-grade fixed-income securities may be subject to these risks to a greater extent than other fixed-income securities. These securities are considered predominantly speculative with respect to the issuer's continuing ability to make principal and interest payments. Rule 144A securities and structured notes may be more illiquid than other fixed-income securities. Foreign Securities Risk: Investments in foreign securities may be subject to greater political, economic, environmental, credit and information risks. The Fund's investments in foreign securities are also subject to foreign currency fluctuations. Foreign securities may be subject to higher volatility than U.S. securities, varying degrees of regulation and limited liquidity. Interest Rate Risk: Changes in interest rates may cause the value of the Fund's investments to decrease. Generally, the value of fixed-income securities rises when prevailing interest rates fall and falls when interest rates rise. A period of low interest rates may cause the Fund to have a low or negative yield, potentially reducing the value of your investment. The value of zero-coupon bonds may be more sensitive to fluctuations in interest rates than other fixed income securities. Issuer Risk: The value of the Fund's investments may decline for a number of reasons that directly relate to the issuer, such as management performance, financial leverage and reduced demand for the issuer's goods and services. Leverage Risk: Use of derivative instruments may involve leverage. Leverage is the risk associated with securities or practices that multiply small index, market or asset price movements into larger changes in value. To the extent that the Fund uses a derivative for purposes other than as a hedge, or if the Fund hedges imperfectly, the Fund is directly exposed to the risks of that derivative and any loss generated by the derivative will not be offset by a gain. The use of leverage increases the impact of gains and losses on a fund's returns, and may lead to significant losses if investments are not successful. However, the Adviser will attempt to ensure that at all times the Fund has sufficient liquid assets to enable it to satisfy its obligations under its derivative contracts. Liquidity Risk: Liquidity risk exists when particular investments are difficult to purchase or sell, possibly preventing the Fund from selling these illiquid securities at an advantageous price or time. A lack of liquidity also may cause the value of investments to decline. Illiquid investments also may be difficult to value. Management Risk: A strategy used by the Fund's portfolio managers may fail to produce the intended result. Market Risk: The market value of a security will move up and down, sometimes rapidly and unpredictably, based upon a change in an issuer's financial condition, as well as overall market and economic conditions.

Risk Lose Money [Text]

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You may lose money by investing in the Fund.

Bar Chart and Performance Table [Heading]

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Risk/Return Bar Chart and Table

Performance Narrative [Text Block]

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The bar chart and table shown below provide some indication of the risks of investing in the Fund by showing changes in the Fund's performance from year-to-year and by showing how the Fund's average annual returns for the one-year, five-year and ten-year periods compare to those of a broad measure of market performance. The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future. Updated performance information is available online at ngam.natixis.com and/or by calling the Fund toll-free at 800-225-5478.The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund's shares. A sales charge will reduce your return.

Performance Information Illustrates Variability of Returns [Text]

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Performance Availability Phone [Text]

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800-225-5478

Performance Availability Website Address [Text]

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ngam.natixis.com

Performance Past Does Not Indicate Future [Text]

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The Fund's past performance (before and after taxes) does not necessarily indicate how the Fund will perform in the future.

Bar Chart [Heading]

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Total Returns for Class A Shares

Bar Chart Does Not Reflect Sales Loads [Text]

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The chart does not reflect any sales charge that you may be required to pay when you buy or redeem the Fund's shares.

Bar Chart Closing [Text Block]

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Highest Quarterly Return:

Second Quarter 2009, 16.38%

Lowest Quarterly Return:
Fourth Quarter 2008, -18.10%

Performance Table Heading

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Average Annual Total Returns
(for the periods ended December 31, 2011)

Performance Table Uses Highest Federal Rate

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After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes.

Performance Table Not Relevant to Tax Deferred

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After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts.

Performance Table One Class of after Tax Shown [Text]

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The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary.

Performance Table Explanation after Tax Higher

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In some cases the after-tax returns may exceed the return before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit from any losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the measurement period.

Performance Table Narrative

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Class B total returns in the table below do not reflect the automatic conversion of Class B shares to Class A shares after eight years.

Performance Table Closing [Text Block]

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The returns shown in the bar chart and table for the periods prior to September 15, 2003 reflect the results of the CDC Nvest High Income Fund, whose assets and liabilities were reorganized into the Fund on September 12, 2003. Prior to February 1, 2012, Class Y shares were offered in a separate prospectus and given that Class Y shares are now offered in this multi-class prospectus, Total Return, Return After Taxes on Distributions and Return After Taxes on Distributions & Sale of Fund Shares are now presented for Class A Shares.After-tax returns are calculated using the historical highest individual federal marginal income tax rates and do not reflect the impact of state and local taxes. Actual after-tax returns depend on an investor's tax situation and may differ from those shown. After-tax returns shown are not relevant to investors who hold their Fund shares through tax-deferred arrangements, such as 401(k) plans, qualified plans, education savings accounts, such as 529 plans, or individual retirement accounts. The after-tax returns are shown for only one class of the Fund. After-tax returns for the other classes of the Fund will vary. In some cases the after-tax returns may exceed the return before taxes due to an assumed tax benefit from any losses on a sale of Fund shares at the end of the measurement period.

Loomis Sayles High Income Fund | Barclays Capital U.S. Corporate High-Yield Bond Index

Risk/Return:

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Past 1 Year

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4.98%

Past 5 Years

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7.54%

Past 10 Years

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8.85%

Life of Class Y

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10.19%

[1]

The expense information shown in the table above may differ from the expense information disclosed in the Fund's financial highlights table because the financial highlights table reflects the operating expenses of the Fund and does not include acquired fund fees and expenses (expenses indirectly borne by the Fund through investments in certain pooled investment vehicles).

[2]

Loomis, Sayles & Company, L.P. ("Loomis Sayles" or the "Adviser") has given a binding contractual undertaking to the Fund to limit the amount of the Fund's total annual fund operating expenses to 1.15%, 1.90%, 1.90% and 0.90% of the Fund's average daily net assets for Class A, B, C and Y shares, respectively, exclusive of brokerage expenses, interest expense, taxes, acquired fund fees and expenses, organizational and extraordinary expenses, such as litigation and indemnification expenses. This undertaking is in effect through January 31, 2013 and may be terminated before then only with the consent of the Fund's Board of Trustees. The Adviser will be permitted to recover, on a class by class basis, management fees waived and/or expenses reimbursed to the extent that expenses in later periods fall below 1.15%, 1.90%, 1.90% and 0.90% of the Fund's average daily net assets for Class A, B, C and Y shares, respectively. The Fund will not be obligated to repay any such waived/reimbursed fees and expenses more than one year after the end of the fiscal year in which the fees or expenses were waived/reimbursed.