American Indian

noun

plural American Indians

: a member of any of the Indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere except often certain peoples (such as the Yupik and Inuit) who live in arctic regions

especially : an American Indian of North America and especially the U.S. compare native american

American Indian adjective

Examples of American Indian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lowe was previously a trustee for the National Museum of the American Indian, the director of the Native American Cultural Center at Yale University, and the executive director of Harvard University’s Native American Program. —News Desk, Artforum, 14 Mar. 2025

What none of them realize is the power of the sandman. Staples, who holds an MFA in fiction from the Institute of American Indian Arts, gives us a creepy and fast-paced story that details the workings of a well-run casino and the spirits of those who have been there in life. —Mary Ann Grossmann, Twin Cities, 10 Mar. 2025

This year’s filing has additional U.S.-based employee listings for American Indian/Alaskan Native, Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific, and Two or More Races. —Catherine Muccigrosso, Charlotte Observer, 6 Mar. 2025

Suicide rates among adults ages 25–44 also increased for people who identify as Hispanic (19.4%) and American Indian or Alaskan Native (33.7%). —Kristal Dixon, Axios, 28 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for American Indian

• amerindian

Kids Definition

American Indian

noun

: a member of any of the Indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere except often certain peoples (as the Yupik and Inuit) who live in arctic regions

especially : an American Indian of North America and especially the U.S.

American Indian adjective