indigenous

American  

[in-dij-uh-nuhs] / ɪnˈdɪdʒ ə nəs /

adjective

1. originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native (often followed byto ).

   the plants indigenous to Canada.

   Synonyms:

   natural, aboriginal, autochthonous

   Antonyms:

   exotic, foreign

2. Indigenous. relating to or being a people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants: the Indigenous languages of the Americas.

   the Indigenous Maori of New Zealand;

   the Indigenous languages of the Americas.

3. innate; inherent; natural (usually followed byto ).

   feelings indigenous to human beings.

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indigenous British  

/ ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəs, ˌɪndɪˈdʒɛnɪtɪ /

adjective

1. originating or occurring naturally (in a country, region, etc); native

2. innate (to); inherent (in)

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indigenous Scientific  

/ ĭn-dĭj′ə-nəs /

1. Native to a particular region or environment but occurring naturally in other places as well. The American black bear is indigenous to many different parts of North America.

2. Compare alien endemic

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• indigenousness
  noun
• indigenity
  noun
• unindigenously
  adverb
• indigenously
  adverb
• nonindigenous
  adjective
• unindigenous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of indigenous

First recorded in 1640–50; from Latin indigen(a) “native, original inhabitant” ( indi-, by-form of in- in- ² ( cf. indagate) + -gena, derivative from base of gignere “to bring into being”; cf. genital, genitor) + -ous

Explanation

Use indigenous to describe a plant, animal or person that is native or original to an area. Though Switzerland is known for its chocolates, chocolate, which comes from the cocoa plant, is indigenous to South America. Indigenous, aboriginal, and native all mean the same thing. Aboriginal, however, is commonly used in connection with Australia, and native with North America. The most neutral of the three terms, indigenous comes from the Latin word, indigena meaning "a native." An indigenous ceremony or religion is one traditionally used by a certain group of people.

Example Sentences

Anadol Studio’s active creative partnership with Google deepened after Refik’s own more recent stays in the Sacred Village, taking advantage of what Neven characterizes as “the ethnobotanical knowledge that Indigenous tribes still possess.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

Black and Indigenous Americans, labor organizers, immigrants, queer people, political dissidents, abuse survivors, and countless others have discovered that rights celebrated in the abstract can evaporate when exercised against the wrong forces.

From Slate • Jun. 4, 2026

Their trip included focusing on Indigenous culture, Australian sport, multiple good causes and a trip to the Australia's War Memorial.

From BBC • Jun. 4, 2026

The program was designed to benefit both wolverines and the Indigenous Sámi reindeer herders who share the landscape with them.

From Science Daily • Jun. 1, 2026

Indigenous peoples of what came to be called the Americas were citizens of self-governing nations.

From "An Indigenous People’s History of the United States" by Roxanne Dunbar-Ortiz

Related Words

• congenital
• connate
• constitutional
• essential
• fundamental
• inborn
• inherent
• inherited
• innate
• intrinsic
• natural
• unacquired