indigenous
Native to a land, especially before colonization.
Example
“The Aboriginals were indigenous to Victoria before the World War.”
Other meanings
In particular, of or relating to a people (or their language or culture) that inhabited a region prior to the arrival of people of other cultures which became dominant (e.g., through colonialism), and which maintains a distinct culture.
innate, inborn.
Related words
- indigenocide
- indigenist
- indigenization
- transindigenous
- indigeneity
- indigenously
- indigenous medicine
- indigenousness
- Indigenous Peoples' Day
- nonindigenous
Word history
From Latin "indigenus" (native, born in a country).
Where this comes from
This definition is adapted from “indigenous” on Wiktionary, by its contributors, published under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page is published under the same licence.