Meaning & use

indigenous

adjective·Academic

Originating naturally in a particular place or region rather than arriving from elsewhere.

See it in a sentence

The eucalyptus tree is indigenous to Australia, though it now grows worldwide.

Several indigenous communities have lived along this river for thousands of years.

A note on using this word

Indigenous applies to plants, animals, and peoples with long-standing ties to a specific land, distinct from settlers or later arrivals.

Words with a similar meaning

nativeaboriginal

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

foreignintroduced

Make it your own

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