indigenous

[ in-dij-uh-nuhs ]

/ ɪnˈdɪdʒ ə nəs /

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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.

OTHER WORDS FOR indigenous

1 autochthonous, aboriginal, natural.

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OPPOSITES FOR indigenous

1 foreign, exotic.

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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 FROM indigenous

in·dig·e·nous·ly, adverbin·dig·e·nous·ness, in·di·gen·i·ty

[in-di-jen-i-tee], /ˌɪn dɪˈdʒɛn ɪ ti/, nounnon·in·dig·e·nous, adjectiveun·in·dig·e·nous, adjective

un·in·dig·e·nous·ly, adverb

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH indigenous

endogenous, indigenous

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use indigenous in a sentence

There was a lot of positive feedback from people interested in non-gender binary people.
Grindr’s Trans Dating Problem|David Levesley|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She ultimately ditched JSwipe after about a week and found her current, non-Jewish, boyfriend on OkCupid.
My Week on Jewish Tinder|Emily Shire|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
An atheist counsels his fellow non-believers on how not to talk to people of faith.
The Case Against In-Your-Face Atheism|Steve Neumann|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The distinction between over-policing and non-responsiveness was alive and well in Bed-Stuy.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown|Batya Ungar-Sargon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Last summer, Louisiana also banned non-legal adoption, with offenders facing a penalty of $5,000 and up to five years in prison.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking|Tina Traster|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The expatriated ex-rebels became alarmed by the non-receipt of the indemnity instalment and the news from their homes.
The Philippine Islands|John Foreman
He also states that the Audiencia is virtually non-existent, and so there is no high court in which justice may be sought.
The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898, Volume XX, 1621-1624|Various
De moi, je ne say qu'en dire, d'autant que je ne veux affirmer ny le si ny le non en ce dont je n'ay vidence.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
Certes le capitaine Merveilles et ses gens monstrerent leur pit non vulgaire.
The Jesuit Relations and Allied Documents, Vol. II: Acadia, 1612-1614|Various
It teaches you to take your time, or as the Germans call it, it gives you "Ruhe (repose)," the grand sine qua non!
Music-Study in Germany|Amy Fay

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)

Derived forms of indigenous

indigenously, adverbindigenousness or indigenity (ˌɪndɪˈdʒɛnɪtɪ), noun

Word Origin for indigenous

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

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.

indigenous

OTHER WORDS FOR indigenous

OPPOSITES FOR indigenous

Origin of indigenous

OTHER WORDS FROM indigenous

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH indigenous

Words related to indigenous

How to use indigenous in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for indigenous

Derived forms of indigenous

Word Origin for indigenous

Scientific definitions for indigenous