indigenous

[ in-dij-uh-nuhs ]

See synonyms for indigenous on Thesaurus.com

adjective

originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native (often followed by to): the plants indigenous to Canada.
Indigenous. relating to or being a people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants: the Indigenous Maori of New Zealand;the Indigenous languages of the Americas.

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

Origin of indigenous

First recorded in 1640–50; from 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

Other words for indigenous

1	autochthonous, aboriginal, natural

See synonyms for indigenous on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for indigenous

1	foreign, exotic

See antonyms for indigenous on Thesaurus.com

Other words from indigenous

in·dig·e·nous·ly, adverb
in·dig·e·nous·ness, in·di·gen·i·ty [in-di-jen-i-tee], /ˌɪn dɪˈdʒɛn ɪ ti/, noun
non·in·dig·e·nous, adjective
un·in·dig·e·nous, adjective
un·in·dig·e·nous·ly, adverb

Words that may be confused with indigenous

endogenous, indigenous

Words Nearby indigenous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use indigenous in a sentence

Here you’ll partner with indigenous people to harvest cassavas, fish for food, and communicate only with gestures.
27 Epic Trips to Start Planning Now | The Editors | September 8, 2020 | Outside Online
Now, otters threaten to deplete these profitable invertebrate fisheries, which have sustained coastal indigenous communities.
Bringing sea otters back to the Pacific coast pays off, but not for everyone | Jonathan Lambert | June 11, 2020 | Science News
The initiative, run as a global nonprofit, would encourage the development of more microbiome collections by creating courses to train researchers across the globe to collect samples from indigenous populations in their regions.
Scientists want to build a Noah’s Ark for the human microbiome | Carolyn Beans | June 11, 2020 | Science News
Dominguez-Bello has worked with local researchers in Venezuela, Bolivia, Peru and Brazil to collect and study stool samples from indigenous populations in those countries.
Scientists want to build a Noah’s Ark for the human microbiome | Carolyn Beans | June 11, 2020 | Science News
So many indigenous communities and places in the Southwest are impacted by mining.
Desert trails and microbial life excite this soil scientist | Carolyn Wilke | March 31, 2020 | Science News For Students

Islands overrun by flawed people, both indigenous and imperialist.
How Haoles Destroyed Hawaii | Wendy Smith | December 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Seattle is one of the most recent, with its city council voting this year to adopt the indigenous version of the holiday.
Keep the Holiday, Lose Columbus | Carrie Gibson | October 13, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Grown in the jungle by the indigenous Kichwa, guayusa (gwhy-you-sa) is a sacred leaf used in ceremonial rituals.
Bye Bye Latté, Hello Guayusa: Why The Amazon Holds the Secret to a Cleaner, Healthier Caffeine | Brandon Presser | August 29, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The vine and the ceremony are deeply entwined with South American indigenous religions of the Amazon.
Spirit Tripping With Colombian Shamans | Chris Allbritton | August 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Many indigenous people believe consuming yagé opens up pathways to the spirit world, and allows conversations with these spirits.
Spirit Tripping With Colombian Shamans | Chris Allbritton | August 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Brazilian bean; the common bean, Phaseolus vulgaris, indigenous to America.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614 | Various
In the domain of politics I should make use of the indigenous institutions and serve them by curing them of their proved defects.
Third class in Indian railways | Mahatma Gandhi
Following out the Swadeshi spirit, I observe the indigenous institutions and the village panchayats hold me.
Third class in Indian railways | Mahatma Gandhi
They found human indigenous races on a few worlds, all of them at a rather low technical level, and they taught them.
The Stars, My Brothers | Edmond Hamilton
Loyalty must be indigenous to a soil where, under such adverse conditions, it has taken such deep root and flourishes.
History of Prince Edward Island | Duncan Campbell

British Dictionary definitions for indigenous

indigenous

/ (ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəs) /

adjective(when postpositive, foll by to)

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

Origin of indigenous

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

Derived forms of indigenous

indigenously, adverb
indigenousness or indigenity (ˌɪndɪˈdʒɛnɪtɪ), noun

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

Scientific definitions for indigenous

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.

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