Australoid

American  

[aw-struh-loid] / ˈɔ strəˌlɔɪd /

Also Australioid

noun

1. Anthropology. a descriptive category including principally the Australian Aboriginal peoples and sometimes including Papuans, Melanesians, various peoples, as Negritos, of the Philippines, Malay Peninsula, and Andaman Islands, and some of the tribes of central and southern India.

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adjective

1. pertaining to or having the characteristics of the Australoids.

Australoid British  

/ ˈɒstrəˌlɔɪd /

adjective

1. denoting, relating to, or belonging to a supposed racial group that includes the native Australians and certain other peoples of southern Asia and the Pacific islands.

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noun

1. any member of this racial group

Usage

The word Australoid and other words ending in -oid and relating to racial groups, such as Mongoloid , are controversial scientifically and best avoided. If you need to mention the ethnicity of indigenous peoples from this region it is preferable to use a specific name, or a widely accepted term such as indigenous Australians or Aboriginal peoples

Etymology

Origin of Australoid

First recorded in 1860–65; variant of Australioid. See Australia, -oid

Example Sentences

The Melanesian qualities are in part Negroid or Negritoid and in part Australoid.

From A Racial Study of the Fijians by Gabel, Norman E.

The third group is that of the Australoid type.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7 "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" by Various

This prevelence of body and face hair seems to conform to parts of Melanesia where it may be regarded as an Australoid element.

From A Racial Study of the Fijians by Gabel, Norman E.

The presence of Australoid suggestions need not mean that they come from Australia, but that they form a part of the Melanesian make-up.

From A Racial Study of the Fijians by Gabel, Norman E.