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

Although there is a National Museum for the American Indian, Joyheart wants broader recognition of the unique challenges Indigenous people have overcome. —Cy Neff, USA TODAY, 25 Dec. 2024

The most significant death rate decreases were among Hispanic men and women — 10.5 percent for men and 8 percent for Hispanic women — as well as American Indian and Alaska Natives, who saw an 11.5 percent decrease for men and 13.5 percent for women. —Nathaniel Weixel, The Hill, 19 Dec. 2024

The most sizable drops in death rates were among Hispanic men and women — decreases of 10.5% and 8%, respectively — and in American Indian and Alaska Native people, whose rates fell 11.5% for women and 13.5% for men. —Randi Richardson, NBC News, 19 Dec. 2024

The lawyers estimate approximately 7,000 people were victimized by fraudulent schemes that disproportionately targeted Indigenous people who were trying to get sober from substance use disorder and were enrolled in an Arizona Medicaid program called the American Indian Health Program. —Stephanie Innes, The Arizona Republic, 17 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined above

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