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definitions

aboriginal

[ab-uh-rij-uh-nl]
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adjective

of, relating to, or typical of aborigines: aboriginal customs.
original or earliest known; native; indigenous: the aboriginal people of Tahiti.

noun

aborigine(def 1).
(initial capital letter) aborigine(def 2).

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RELATED WORDS

primitive, ancient, primary, native, original, endemic, first, earliest, indigenous, primeval, primordial

Nearby words

  1. abomination,
  2. abondance,
  3. aboon,
  4. aborad,
  5. aboral,
  6. aboriginalia,
  7. aboriginality,
  8. aborigine,
  9. aborigines,
  10. aborning

Origin of aboriginal

First recorded in 1660–70; aborigine + -al1
Related formsab·o·rig·i·nal·i·ty, nounab·o·rig·i·nal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for aboriginal

British Dictionary definitions for aboriginal

aboriginal

adjective

existing in a place from the earliest known period; indigenous; autochthonous
Derived Formsaboriginally, adverb

Aboriginal

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of the indigenous peoples of Australia

noun

another word for an Australian Aborigine

usage

The Australian government suggests that the most exact and inclusive way of referring to the indigenous peoples of Australia is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples . Other terms which are acceptable are: Aboriginal people(s), Australian Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders
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
Word Origin and History for aboriginal

aboriginal

adj.

1660s, "first, earliest," especially in reference to inhabitants of lands colonized by Europeans, from aborigines (see aborigine) + -al (1); specific Australian sense is from 1820. The noun is attested from 1767. Related: Aboriginally.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper