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• Native American
  Native American

  noun

  Indian.
• native American
  native American

  noun

  a person born in the United States.

Native American

¹ American  

[ney-tiv uh-mer-i-kuhn] / ˈneɪ tɪv əˈmɛr ɪ kən /

noun

1. Indian.

2. a member of any of the aboriginal peoples of the Americas, including Indians and non-Indians.

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native American ² American  

noun

1. a person born in the United States.

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Native American British  

noun

1. A member of the indigenous peoples of North America

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Native Americans or any of their languages

Sensitive Note

See Indian, Eskimo.

Other Word Forms

• native-American
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of native American

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Example Sentences

In the Native American literary community, Sarris has often felt excluded from discourse.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 24, 2026

Shelly Corbin, a Native American activist who participated in the “Reimagining” meetings, found the federal suit disheartening.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

The findings may also prove valuable for Native American tribes located within or near the park.

From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026

A song clip from Native American author and poet John Trudell.

From Salon • May 12, 2026

This table gives approximate dates of widespread adoption of significant developments in three Eurasian and four Native American areas.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond