Inuit

noun

In·​u·​it ˈi-n(y)ü-wət How to pronounce Inuit (audio)
variants or less commonly
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The costume team balanced vibrant colors with traditional Inuit patterns and textures to maintain a comedic yet culturally rich vibe. Dana Feldman, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 The country’s vast ice sheet, glaciers, deep fjords and abundance of marine life, including whales, are the key attractions, while pride in the local Inuit culture is also growing. Reuters, CNN, 21 Mar. 2025 The moons, observed from 2019 to 2021 at the Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope, were placed into subgroups within two categories of Saturnian irregulars; the Inuit group contains the Kiviuq and Siarnaq subgroups, and the Norse group contains the Phoebe, Mundilfari, and Kari subgroups. Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 17 Mar. 2025 Our journey that day continued on foot, taking us up over the glacier along a dogsled route that dates back to the Thule, the Inuit’s predecessors, who settled in Greenland around 800 years ago. Chloe Berge, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Inuit

Word History

Etymology

Inuit inuit, plural of inuk person

First Known Use

1745, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Time Traveler
The first known use of Inuit was in 1745

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Inuit.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Inuit. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

Inuit

noun
In·​u·​it ˈi-n(y)ü-wət How to pronounce Inuit (audio)
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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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