aboriginal

[ ab-uh-rij-uh-nl ]

adjective

1. Sometimes Aboriginal. relating to or typical of the original or earliest known inhabitants of a region, or their descendants: aboriginal customs.

   the aboriginal people of Tahiti;

   aboriginal customs.

2. Aboriginal. relating to or being a member of any of the peoples who are the earliest known inhabitants of Australia, or one of their descendants:

   an Aboriginal tribe of Tasmania.

3. originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native; indigenous:

   aboriginal mammals of the Arctic.

   Synonyms: autochthonous, endemic

noun

1. Sometimes Aboriginal. Aborigine ( def 2 ).
2. Aboriginal. Often Offensive. Aborigine ( def 1 ).

aboriginal

¹

/ ˌæbəˈrɪdʒɪnəl /

adjective

1. existing in a place from the earliest known period; indigenous; autochthonous

Aboriginal

²

/ ˌæbəˈrɪdʒɪnəl /

adjective

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

noun

1. another word for an Australian Aborigine

Usage Note

See 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

Derived Forms

• ˌaboˈriginally, adverb

Other Words From

• abo·rigi·nali·ty noun
• abo·rigi·nal·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of aboriginal¹

First recorded in 1660–70; Aborigine + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The day just gets more upsetting when we hear about aboriginal rights in Canada.

From The Daily Beast

The cover story is about how over 1,000 aboriginal women have gone missing since 1980.

From The Daily Beast

“At that time, Aboriginal people were only just granted citizenship,” Briggs tells the Daily Beast.

From The Daily Beast

One Sapphire, Kay, falls for a black soldier, even as she struggles with her Aboriginal identity.

From The Daily Beast

An all-girl Aboriginal quartet sings in war-torn Vietnam in ‘The Sapphires,’ out today.

From The Daily Beast

MacRae's seat, stone-marker, and aboriginal spearhead; the three lined up like the sights of a modern rifle.

From Project Gutenberg

Your school years are ended, and a life of quiet, amid scenes of aboriginal romance, awaits you here.

From Project Gutenberg

On the whole, the new comers succeeded in making friends of the aboriginal race.

From Project Gutenberg

The aboriginal races include American Indians of the mainland and Caribs.

From Project Gutenberg

The aboriginal tribes of Australia are of a low-class black race, but generally peaceful and inoffensive in their habits.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• earliest
• original