indigenous

American  

[in-dij-uh-nuhs] / ɪnˈdɪdʒ ə nəs /

adjective

1. originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native (often followed byto ).

   the plants indigenous to Canada.

   Synonyms:

   natural, aboriginal, autochthonous

   Antonyms:

   exotic, foreign

2. Indigenous. relating to or being a people who are the original, earliest known inhabitants of a region, or are their descendants: the Indigenous languages of the Americas.

   the Indigenous Maori of New Zealand;

   the Indigenous languages of the Americas.

3. innate; inherent; natural (usually followed byto ).

   feelings indigenous to human beings.

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indigenous British  

/ ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəs, ˌɪndɪˈdʒɛnɪtɪ /

adjective

1. originating or occurring naturally (in a country, region, etc); native

2. innate (to); inherent (in)

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indigenous Scientific  

/ ĭn-dĭj′ə-nəs /

1. 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.

2. Compare alien endemic

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Other Word Forms

• indigenity
  noun
• indigenousness
  noun
• nonindigenous
  adjective
• unindigenous
  adjective
• indigenously
  adverb
• unindigenously
  adverb

Etymology

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

Explanation

Use indigenous to describe a plant, animal or person that is native or original to an area. Though Switzerland is known for its chocolates, chocolate, which comes from the cocoa plant, is indigenous to South America. Indigenous, aboriginal, and native all mean the same thing. Aboriginal, however, is commonly used in connection with Australia, and native with North America. The most neutral of the three terms, indigenous comes from the Latin word, indigena meaning "a native." An indigenous ceremony or religion is one traditionally used by a certain group of people.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

indigenous

The yellow fever virus, also indigenous to Africa, must have stowed away too.

From Slate ● Aug. 4, 2026

"His background is everything - European, African-American, Hispanic and indigenous as well," he says.

From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026

The company said it has established indigenous partnerships, including a C$20 million equity investment from Taykwa Tagamou Nation, the largest known first nation investment in a critical minerals project in Canada.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026

When European colonizers came to New Zealand in the 1800s, it changed the indigenous food.

From Salon ● Jul. 26, 2026

Afterward even the memory of indigenous fire faded.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann

Related Words

• congenital
• connate
• constitutional
• essential
• fundamental
• inborn
• inherent
• inherited
• innate
• intrinsic
• natural
• unacquired