aborigine
noun
ab·orig·i·ne
ˌa-bə-ˈrij-(ˌ)nē 
-ˈri-jə-
1
: a member of the original people to inhabit an area especially as contrasted with an invading or colonizing people
2
often capitalized
: a member of any of the indigenous peoples of Australia
Examples of aborigine in a Sentence
a national sport whose origins can be traced to an ancient game first played by the aborigines
Recent Examples on the Web
The Guanches were aborigines of the Canary Islands.
—
Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
Breuil based his conclusions on contemporary anthropological observations of the Arunta aborigines in central Australia.
—Roger Lewin, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
The bill’s sponsors insisted their motives were not racist, although, one of the sponsors, state Sen. Scott Beason, later recorded himself referring to black people as aborigines while wearing a wire for the FBI.
—Kyle Whitmire, al, 22 Nov. 2019
For long, appropriation of identities and assets by the privileged has been among the key challenges faced by aborigines across the world.
—K A Shaji, Quartz India, 30 Aug. 2019
In Kerala, one of India’s most socially advanced states, aborigines form 1.45% of the 33.4 million population (2011 Census), but have remained alienated.
—K A Shaji, Quartz India, 30 Aug. 2019
Markets just happened among Australian aborigines buying boomerangs from better-skilled bands hundreds of miles distant.
—Deirdre McCloskey, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2018
The key ingredient is a thorny acacia shrub the aborigines prized for its medicinal properties.
—Hilda Hoy, Slate Magazine, 8 May 2017
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Jp Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
Breuil based his conclusions on contemporary anthropological observations of the Arunta aborigines in central Australia.
—Roger Lewin, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019
The bill’s sponsors insisted their motives were not racist, although, one of the sponsors, state Sen. Scott Beason, later recorded himself referring to black people as aborigines while wearing a wire for the FBI.
—Kyle Whitmire, al, 22 Nov. 2019
For long, appropriation of identities and assets by the privileged has been among the key challenges faced by aborigines across the world.
—K A Shaji, Quartz India, 30 Aug. 2019
In Kerala, one of India’s most socially advanced states, aborigines form 1.45% of the 33.4 million population (2011 Census), but have remained alienated.
—K A Shaji, Quartz India, 30 Aug. 2019
Markets just happened among Australian aborigines buying boomerangs from better-skilled bands hundreds of miles distant.
—Deirdre McCloskey, WSJ, 7 Sep. 2018
The key ingredient is a thorny acacia shrub the aborigines prized for its medicinal properties.
—Hilda Hoy, Slate Magazine, 8 May 2017
Dictionary Entries Near aborigine
Cite this Entry
“Aborigine.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aborigine. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
aborigine
noun
ab·orig·i·ne
ˌab-ə-ˈrij-ə-(ˌ)nē
1
: a member of the original people to live in an area : native
2
often capitalized
: a member of any of the Indigenous people of Australia
Etymology
from Latin aborigines "original inhabitants," from ab origine "from the beginning," from origin-, origo "beginning, source," from oriri "to rise" — related to origin
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