Native American

¹ American  

[ney-tiv uh-mer-i-kuhn] / ˈneɪ tɪv əˈmɛr ɪ kən /

noun

1. Indian.

2. a member of any of the aboriginal peoples of the Americas, including Indians and non-Indians.

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native American ² American  

noun

1. a person born in the United States.

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Native American British  

noun

1. A member of the indigenous peoples of North America

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Native Americans or any of their languages

Sensitive Note

See Indian, Eskimo.

Other Word Forms

• native-American adjective

Etymology

Origin of native American

An Americanism dating back to 1835–45

Example Sentences

Military aficionados will love the jargon and tech, and Mr. Wilson does a masterly job of combining Native American experience and ancestral connection with modern warfare for a satisfying resolution.

From The Wall Street Journal

These weren’t the cowboys of the Hollywood western; these cowboys were Black, a few were Native American.

From The Wall Street Journal

In 1995, Hearn, who was part Native American, changed the name of his organization to Cowboys of Color Rodeo, to promote rodeos that are open to all athletes; it also offers words between events at rodeos, educating attendees about the long history of Black, Hispanic and indigenous cowboys and cowgirls.

From The Wall Street Journal

A4 academic support programs for elementary students were first implemented during summer and after school, before expanding to year-round services at over a dozen schools with the largest populations of Black, Latino, Afro-Latino, Hmong, Native American and Pacific Islander students.

From Los Angeles Times

Vargas and her 5-year-old daughter, who is Native American and African American, have received resources to learn at home, preparing her for kindergarten this year.

From Los Angeles Times