Inuit

American  

[in-oo-it, -yoo-] / ˈɪn u ɪt, -yu- /

Or Innuit

noun

plural

Inuits,

plural

Inuit

1. a member of a group of Indigenous peoples inhabiting northernmost North America from northern Alaska to eastern Canada and Greenland.

2. the language of the Inuit, a member of the Eskimo-Aleut family comprising a variety of dialects.

---

Inuit British  

/ ˈɪnjuːɪt /

noun

1. any of several Native peoples of N America or Greenland, as distinguished from those from Asia or the Aleutian Islands (who are still generally referred to as Eskimos); the preferred term for Eskimo in N America Compare Yupik

2. the language of these peoples; Inuktitut

---

Sensitive Note

See Eskimo, Indian.

Etymology

Origin of Inuit

First recorded in 1755–65; from Inuit: literally, “people,” plural of inuk “person”

Compare meaning

How does inuit compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• Eskimo vs. Inuit

Example Sentences

The Arctic territory's Inuit culture also helped, said Kleist.

From Barron's

Greenland, with its 90% Inuit population, is acutely aware of this history.

From The Wall Street Journal

His relationship with his female Inuit patrol partner deteriorates.

From The Wall Street Journal

Three centuries of Danish colonization has spurred a range of resentments between the island’s Inuit residents and faraway Copenhagen.

From The Wall Street Journal

“No. We’ve never had the same spiritual connection to polar bears as the Inuit,” said George.

From Literature