Indian
Also called American Indian, Amerind, Amerindian, Native American . a member of any of the aboriginal peoples of the Americas, especially of subarctic North America, excluding the Inuit, Yupik, and Aleut.
any of the Indigenous languages of the American Indians. Abbreviation: Ind
a member of any of the peoples native to or inhabiting India or the East Indies.
a citizen of the Republic of India.
Slang. a person who performs a required task or carries out the instructions of superiors: We have too many chiefs and not enough Indians.
Astronomy. the constellation Indus.
of, relating to, or characteristic of the American Indians or their languages.
of, relating to, or characteristic of India or the East Indies.
made of Indian corn: Indian meal.
Zoogeography. oriental (def. 3).
Phytogeography. belonging or pertaining to a geographical division comprising India south of the Himalayas, and Pakistan and Sri Lanka.
Origin of Indian
1usage note For Indian
In the 18th century the term American Indian came to be used for the aboriginal inhabitants of the United States and Canada; it now includes the aboriginal peoples of South America as well. (When necessary, further distinctions are made with such terms as North American Indian and South American Indian. ) The terms Amerindian and Amerind subsequently developed in the attempt to reduce ambiguity. The most recent designation, especially in North America, is Native American. American Indians themselves tend to favor the terms Indian, American Indian, or a specific tribal name. They sometimes refer to themselves collectively as Indian peoples. All these terms appear in edited writing. Whether one or several will gain ascendancy over the others remains to be seen. See Eskimo. See also honest Injun, Indian giver.
Other words from Indian
- an·ti-In·di·an, adjective, noun
- non-In·di·an, adjective, noun
- pre-In·di·an, noun, adjective
- pro-In·di·an, adjective, noun
- pseu·do-In·di·an, adjective, noun
- trans-In·di·an, adjective
Words Nearby Indian
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use Indian in a sentence
The state also elected Republican Nikki Haley, an Indian-American, as governor.
Steve Scalise Shows There’s a Fine Line Between Confederate & Southern | Lloyd Green | January 2, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTThey castigated the captain, a 48-year-old Indonesian, and his rookie copilot, a 24-year-old Indian.
The feisty airline is the brainchild of entrepreneur Tony Fernandes, a Malaysian of Indian descent who also is a British citizen.
The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370 | Lennox Samuels | December 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTPoolaw spent most of his life (1906—84) documenting Indian subjects.
Eid, who teaches Indian law at two law schools and works as an attorney himself, had no idea that it was coming.
Tribes to U.S. Government: Take Your Weed and Shove It | Abby Haglage | December 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Alessandro turned a grateful look on Ramona as he translated this speech, so in unison with Indian modes of thought and feeling.
Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonThe doors (Indian bungalows have hardly any windows, each door being half glass) were open front and back.
The Red Year | Louis TracyHad not this Indian plant been discovered, the whole history of some portions of America would have been far different.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.The Indian turned his head, and spoke to some one behind; one after another a score of figures rose.
Ramona | Helen Hunt JacksonAs he was toiling slowly up a narrow, rocky pass, he suddenly saw an Indian's head peering over the ledge.
Ramona | Helen Hunt Jackson
British Dictionary definitions for Indian
/ (ˈɪndɪən) /
a native, citizen, or inhabitant of the Republic of India
old-fashioned, taboo a Native American
(not in scholarly usage) any of the languages of Native Americans
of, relating to, or characteristic of India, its inhabitants, or any of their languages
(Not in scholarly usage) of, relating to, or characteristic of Native Americans or any of their languages
Indian
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Browse