aboriginal

[ ab-uh-rij-uh-nl ]
See synonyms for aboriginal on Thesaurus.com
adjective
  1. Sometimes Aboriginal. relating to or typical of the original or earliest known inhabitants of a region, or their descendants: the aboriginal people of Tahiti;aboriginal customs.

  2. Aboriginal. relating to or being a member of any of the peoples who are the earliest known inhabitants of Australia, or one of their descendants: an Aboriginal tribe of Tasmania.

  1. originating in and characteristic of a particular region or country; native; indigenous: aboriginal mammals of the Arctic.

noun
  1. Sometimes Aboriginal . Aborigine (def. 2).

  2. Aboriginal. Often Offensive. Aborigine (def. 1).

Origin of aboriginal

1
First recorded in 1660–70; Aborigine + -al1

usage note For aboriginal

See Aborigine.

Other words for aboriginal

Other words from aboriginal

  • ab·o·rig·i·nal·i·ty, noun
  • ab·o·rig·i·nal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use aboriginal in a sentence

  • The towns of the Pueblos 534 are essentially unique, and are the dominant feature of these aboriginals.

  • The thick-skinned, thoughtful and reserved aboriginals of central Mexico are most enigmatical in their character.

  • When that mode of dealing with aboriginals has been fairly tried and has failed, then you may ask your question.

  • By settling in the country, they make themselves the fellow-citizens of the aboriginals, and are bound to treat them as such.

  • When the island was first occupied by the English, the number of aboriginals was estimated at four or five thousand.

    The Land of the Kangaroo | Thomas Wallace Knox

British Dictionary definitions for aboriginal (1 of 2)

aboriginal

/ (ˌæbəˈrɪdʒɪnəl) /


adjective
  1. existing in a place from the earliest known period; indigenous; autochthonous

Derived forms of aboriginal

  • aboriginally, adverb

British Dictionary definitions for Aboriginal (2 of 2)

Aboriginal

/ (ˌæbəˈrɪdʒɪnəl) /


adjective
  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of the indigenous peoples of Australia

noun
  1. another word for an Australian Aborigine

usage For Aboriginal

The Australian government suggests that the most exact and inclusive way of referring to the indigenous peoples of Australia is Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples . Other terms which are acceptable are: Aboriginal people(s), Australian Aboriginals and Torres Strait Islanders

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