indigenous

[ in-dij-uh-nuhs ]

/ ɪnˈdɪdʒ ə nəs /

adjective

originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native (often followed by to): the plants indigenous to Canada; the indigenous peoples of southern Africa.

innate; inherent; natural (usually followed by to): feelings indigenous to human beings.

Nearby words

indifferent tissue, indifferentism, indigence, indigene, indigenize, indigenous, indigenous australian, indigent, indigested, indigestible, indigestion

Origin of indigenous

1640–50; < Latin indigen(a) native, original inhabitant (indi-, by-form of in- in-² (cf. indagate) + -gena, derivative from base of gignere to bring into being; cf. genital, genitor) + -ous

SYNONYMS FOR indigenous

1 autochthonous, aboriginal, natural.

ANTONYMS FOR indigenous

1 foreign, alien.

Related forms

in·dig·e·nous·ly, adverbin·dig·e·nous·ness, in·di·gen·i·ty

[in-di-jen-i-tee] /ˌɪn dɪˈdʒɛn ɪ ti/, nounnon·in·dig·e·nous, adjectiveun·in·dig·e·nous, adjective

un·in·dig·e·nous·ly, adverb

Can be confused

endogenous indigenous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for indigenity

indigenous

/ (ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəs) /

adjective (when postpositive, foll by to)

originating or occurring naturally (in a country, region, etc); native

innate (to); inherent (in)

Derived Forms

indigenously, adverbindigenousness or indigenity (ˌɪndɪˈdʒɛnɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for indigenous

C17: from Latin indigenus, from indigena indigene, from indi- in + gignere to beget

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

Science definitions for indigenity

indigenous

[ ĭn-dĭj′ə-nəs ]

Native to a particular region or environment but occurring naturally in other places as well. The American black bear is indigenous to many different parts of North America. Compare alien endemic.