Inuit

American  

[in-oo-it, -yoo-] / ˈɪn u ɪt, -ju- /

Or Innuit

noun

Inuits, plural Inuit plural

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.

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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

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Sensitive Note

See Eskimo, Indian.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• Inuit
  plural
• Inuits
  plural

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

To choose the name, the researchers worked with Jarloo Kiguktak, an Inuit Elder and former mayor of Grise Fiord, the northernmost Inuit community in Canada.

From Science Daily • Mar. 24, 2026

But the film doubles as a fascinating study of humans’ engagement with their environment, exploring not-always-predictable differences between the approach of the local Inuit population—hunters by tradition—and nonindigenous people with particular ideas about conservation.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 10, 2026

Greenlandic politician Aqqaluk Lynge, founder of the Greenlandic left-wing party Inuit Ataqatigiit, believes that Copenhagen and Nuuk need to exercise caution.

From Barron's • Mar. 10, 2026

Most of the roughly 56,000 citizens are Greenlandic Inuit, though all residents are considered citizens of Denmark.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 22, 2026

One crew member spoke an Inuit language and acted as translator.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock