C1adjective 3K

Indigenous

🇬🇧 UK /["/ɪnˈdɪdʒənəs/"]/ 🇺🇸 US /["/ɪnˈdɪdʒənəs/"]/

Meaning of Indigenous

coming from a particular place and having lived there for a long time before other people came there; relating to, belonging to or developed by these people

In simple words: People or things that originally come from a place.

Indigenous in a sentence

• the **indigenous peoples/languages** of an area
• Indigenous **Australians/Canadians**
• indigenous **land/territory**
• She campaigns for indigenous rights.
• Guatemala has one of the highest percentages of indigenous peoples of any country in the Americas.
• examples of truly indigenous music
• Antarctica has no indigenous human population.
• Several indigenous African languages are used in the country.
• The kangaroo is indigenous to Australia.
• The reserve supports a wide range of indigenous species.

How to use Indigenous

This term is commonly used to refer to the original inhabitants of a region, particularly in discussions about culture, rights, and history. It's important to use it respectfully, especially in formal contexts.

Grammar pattern

standalone adjective

Memory hint

Think of 'in-DIG-nus' as digging deep into the original roots of a community.

Related words

Collocations with Indigenous

• indigenous culture
• indigenous people
• indigenous rights
• indigenous land

Synonyms for Indigenous

• native

Opposites of Indigenous

• non-indigenous
• immigrant

Common mistakes with Indigenous

• Confused with 'native' — while similar, 'indigenous' often implies a deeper cultural connection.
• Using it inappropriately for non-human contexts, where 'native' is more suitable.

Frequently asked questions about Indigenous

What does Indigenous mean?

People or things that originally come from a place.

What is the definition of Indigenous?

coming from a particular place and having lived there for a long time before other people came there; relating to, belonging to or developed by these people

How do you use Indigenous in a sentence?

the **indigenous peoples/languages** of an area

Can you give another example of Indigenous?

Indigenous **Australians/Canadians**

What are synonyms for Indigenous?

Common alternatives include native.

What is the opposite of Indigenous?

Opposite meanings include non-indigenous, immigrant.

What words go with Indigenous?

It commonly pairs with indigenous culture, indigenous people, indigenous rights, indigenous land.

What are common mistakes when using Indigenous?

Confused with 'native' — while similar, 'indigenous' often implies a deeper cultural connection. Using it inappropriately for non-human contexts, where 'native' is more suitable.

How do you pronounce Indigenous?

US: /["/ɪnˈdɪdʒənəs/"]/, UK: /["/ɪnˈdɪdʒənəs/"]/. Listen to the audio above to hear native pronunciation.

When should I use Indigenous?

This term is commonly used to refer to the original inhabitants of a region, particularly in discussions about culture, rights, and history. It's important to use it respectfully, especially in formal contexts.

What CEFR level is Indigenous?

"Indigenous" is at C1 level on the CEFR scale.