Synonym Chooser

How is the word indigenous distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of indigenous are aboriginal, endemic, and native. While all these words mean "belonging to a locality," indigenous applies to that which is not only native but which, as far as can be determined, has never been introduced or brought from elsewhere.

indigenous plants

In what contexts can aboriginal take the place of indigenous?

The synonyms aboriginal and indigenous are sometimes interchangeable, but aboriginal implies having no known others preceding in occupancy of a particular region.

the aboriginal peoples of Australia

When could endemic be used to replace indigenous?

While the synonyms endemic and indigenous are close in meaning, endemic implies being peculiar to a region.

a disease endemic in Africa

When is it sensible to use native instead of indigenous?

The words native and indigenous can be used in similar contexts, but native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it.

native tribal customs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of indigenous The Treaty Principles Bill sought to define the principles of the Treaty of Waitangi – an agreement signed between the British Crown and a group of indigenous Māori leaders in the 1840s, which formalized New Zealand as a British colony and reserved Māori land and customary rights. Todd Symons, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025 French is the official language of the former Belgian colony but over 200 indigenous languages are spoken, the CIA said. Michael Loria, USA Today, 10 Apr. 2025 Opponents said the courts had already settled the principles of the treaty and that the draft list Seymour put forward would erode indigenous rights and harm social cohesion. Todd Symons, CNN Money, 10 Apr. 2025 Choose from among four wellness journeys that take inspiration from the medicine wheel, a sacred symbol of hope and a movement toward healing for generations of indigenous communities. Roger Sands, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for indigenous
Recent Examples of Synonyms for indigenous
Adjective
  • The evolutionary anthropologist Joseph Henrich has summoned the example of the aboriginal Tasmanians, who were cut off from mainland Australia about ten thousand years ago.
    Gideon Lewis-Kraus, The New Yorker, 24 Feb. 2025
  • Before the colonization of Australia, many aboriginal people buried dingoes with rites indistinguishable from those used for humans.
    Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 2 Jan. 2024
Adjective
  • There’s credits, grenades, shield and health kids to scavenge, on top of tons of materials whose inherent value isn’t really made clear at first — or ever, really.
    Christopher Cruz, Rolling Stone, 2 May 2025
  • This highlights the future of our handcraft, emphasizing its significance in an evolving digital landscape and celebrating the labor of love inherent in the Filipino brand of craftsmanship.
    Kissa Castaneda, Forbes.com, 1 May 2025
Adjective
  • But even though their appearance is so distinctive, Chinese mitten crabs are not easy to identify and can easily be mistaken for native crab species—and vice versa.
    Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 May 2025
  • The status allows people already in the United States to live and work legally because their native countries are deemed unsafe for return due to natural disaster or civil strife.
    Time, Time, 2 May 2025
Adjective
  • For the Reposado expression, the tequila is then aged in American white oak barrels, a process that adds structure and refinement without overwhelming the agave's intrinsic character.
    Hudson Lindenberger, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025
  • With more complete data, statisticians could then estimate the intrinsic value of activities through peoples’ stated and revealed preferences and create a framework for measuring consumption based on how people use their time rather than on material spending.
    Brian Deese, Foreign Affairs, 22 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Glyphosate is used widely as an integral part of raising crops including corn, soybeans and cotton genetically modified to resist its killer effect, and as a desiccant on potatoes, sugar beets, wheat and other crops just before harvest.
    John Klar, Baltimore Sun, 27 Apr. 2025
  • In Super Nintendo World, for example, restaurants and stores are integral parts of the narrative journey — offering moments of discovery and interaction, not simply transactions.
    Kate Hardcastle, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Understanding and regulating the trade in shark and ray meat is no longer optional but essential.
    Melissa Cristina Márquez, Forbes.com, 22 Apr. 2025
  • Every child in New York deserves the chance to learn basic literacy, numeracy, science, and civics — skills essential for participating in society, holding a job, and fulfilling civic duties like voting or serving on a jury.
    David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 22 Apr. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Indigenous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/indigenous. Accessed 6 May. 2025.

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