American Indian

American  

noun

1. Indian.

2. Amerind. AmerInd

---

American Indian British  

noun

1. Also called: Native American.  a member of any of the indigenous peoples of North, Central, or South America, esp those of North America

---

adjective

1. Also: Amerindian.  of or relating to any of these peoples, their languages, or their cultures

Sensitive Note

See Indian.

Usage

This term is still acceptable and is widely used by American Indians themselves. The most accepted phrase in general use nowadays is Native American

Etymology

Origin of American Indian

First recorded in 1725–35

Example Sentences

Riverside County, Southern California Edison, American Medical Response of Southern California and the cities of Calimesa and Beaumont are also named as defendants in the suit filed May 7 in Riverside County Superior Court.

From Los Angeles Times • May 8, 2026

The American Medical Association CEO, Dr. John Whyte, does not support autonomous AI prescription renewals, emphasizing physician oversight.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026

The American Psychological Association, American Medical Association, and American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry have all condemned conversion practices as dangerous and unsupported by evidence.

From Slate • Mar. 11, 2026

More than 795,000 people in the U.S. have a stroke each year, which averages to one stroke occurring every 40 seconds, according to the American Medical Association.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 24, 2026

Yet the truth of the matter is that the American Medical Association considers lindane vaporizers so dangerous that it conducted an extended campaign against them in its Journal.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson