Inuit

noun

In·​u·​it ˈi-n(y)ü-wət 

variants or less commonly Innuit

1

plural Inuit or Inuits also Innuit or Innuits

a

: a group of Indigenous peoples of northern Alaska, arctic Canada, and Greenland

—used especially for those of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland

Note: In Canada, the name Inuit refers to one of three major, legally recognized groups of aboriginal peoples, the other two being the First Nations and the Métis.

see also inuk

b

: a member of such people

2

: any of the languages of the Inuit

Usage of Eskimo and Inuit

Eskimo is a word that presents challenges for anyone who is concerned about avoiding the use of offensive language. Its offensiveness stems partly from a now-discredited belief that it was originally a pejorative term meaning "eater of raw flesh," but perhaps more significantly from its being a word imposed on aboriginal peoples by outsiders. It has long been considered a word to be avoided in Canada, where native people refer to themselves as Inuit, a word that means "people" in their language. But not all the native people who are referred to as Eskimos are Inuit. Eskimo has no exact synonym; it has a general meaning that encompasses a number of indigenous peoples, and it continues for now in widespread use in many parts of the English-speaking world.

Examples of Inuit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Still, most of the sounds on the album came from the mouths of Björk and guests like Inuit throat singer Tagaq and Faith No More’s Mike Patton. —Al Shipley, SPIN, 22 Jan. 2025

The country’s links to the island—home to fewer than 60,000 people, most of whom are Inuit—stretch back centuries: Norse settlers arrived in the territory over a millennium ago before eventually disappearing, and Denmark began colonizing the island in the 1700s. —Sara Dorn, Forbes, 16 Jan. 2025

Spirit helpers intervene to make things right again in this arctic fairy tale set in an Inuit community. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025

Yet while Trump and other foreign policy outsiders view Greenland through an external strategic and economic lens, the island is home to nearly 60,000 people – 90% of them indigenous Inuit – many of whom treat the designs of foreign nations on their territory with skepticism. —Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 14 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Inuit inuit, plural of inuk person

First Known Use

1745, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Kids Definition

Inuit

noun

In·​u·​it ˈi-n(y)ü-wət 

variants also Innuit

1

plural Inuit or Inuits also Innuit or Innuits

a

: any of a number of groups of Indigenous peoples of northern Alaska, arctic Canada, and Greenland

—used especially of those of the Canadian Arctic and Greenland

b

: a member of such people

2

: any of the languages of the Inuit