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• Native American
  Native American

  noun

  Indian.
• native American
  native American

  noun

  a person born in the United States.

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

Native American tradition speaks of a type of shapeshifter known as a tolik, or human bear, who can cast lethal spells on their enemies.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026

“He’s a Native American guitar player not a lot of people know enough about,” says Anders.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026

Shelly Corbin, a Native American activist who participated in the “Reimagining” meetings, found the federal suit disheartening.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

The findings may also prove valuable for Native American tribes located within or near the park.

From Science Daily • Jun. 2, 2026

Perhaps the histories of Native American wheels and writing exemplify the principles illustrated in a more extreme form by true island societies.

From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond