ABORIGINAL Synonyms: 25 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'aboriginal' distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of aboriginal are endemic , indigenous , and native . While all these words mean "belonging to a locality," aboriginal implies having no known others preceding in occupancy of a particular region. // the aboriginal peoples of Australia

Q: When is it sensible to use 'endemic' instead of 'aboriginal'?

Although the words endemic and aboriginal have much in common, endemic implies being peculiar to a region. // a disease endemic in Africa

Q: Where would 'indigenous' be a reasonable alternative to 'aboriginal'?

The synonyms indigenous and aboriginal are sometimes interchangeable, but indigenous applies to that which is not only native but which, as far as can be determined, has never been introduced or brought from elsewhere. // indigenous plants

Q: When would 'native' be a good substitute for 'aboriginal'?

While in some cases nearly identical to aboriginal , native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it. // native tribal customs

aboriginal 1 of 2

adjective

ˌa-bə-ˈrij-nəl

Definition of aboriginal next

as in indigenous

belonging to a particular place by birth or origin the aboriginal peoples of northern Alaska are known as Inupiats, which in their language literally means "real people"

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

aboriginal

2 of 2

noun

as in aborigine

a member of the first people to inhabit a region they still speak the language of the region's aboriginals

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word aboriginal distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of aboriginal are endemic, indigenous, and native. While all these words mean "belonging to a locality," aboriginal implies having no known others preceding in occupancy of a particular region.

the aboriginal peoples of Australia

When is it sensible to use endemic instead of aboriginal?

Although the words endemic and aboriginal have much in common, endemic implies being peculiar to a region.

a disease endemic in Africa

Where would indigenous be a reasonable alternative to aboriginal?

The synonyms indigenous and aboriginal are sometimes interchangeable, but indigenous applies to that which is not only native but which, as far as can be determined, has never been introduced or brought from elsewhere.

indigenous plants

When would native be a good substitute for aboriginal?

While in some cases nearly identical to aboriginal, native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it.

native tribal customs

Examples of aboriginal in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Some aboriginal cultures saw the eclipse as an amorous encounter between the sun and the moon. —

Chris Kenning, USA TODAY, 9 Apr. 2024 Indeed, even communities lying outside the fold of Brahminical Hinduism, such as India’s more than 75 million Adivasis—people who belong to the country’s aboriginal groups—have begun to support the BJP in large numbers over the past three decades. —

Hartosh Singh Bal, Foreign Affairs, 13 Apr. 2022

Noun

These people are too far away to show a direct link between them and the Clovis in such a way that indicates the Clovis being the aboriginals of South America. —

Adam Rutherford, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2017 The students paddled and portaged through the park, following the routes once traveled by aboriginals and French-Canadian voyageurs. —

Daily Southtown, 30 Aug. 2017 See all Example Sentences for aboriginal