as in indigenous
belonging to a particular place by birth or origin the fish is not an endemic species of the lake, and it is rapidly devouring the native trout population

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How is the word endemic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of endemic are aboriginal, indigenous, and native. While all these words mean "belonging to a locality," endemic implies being peculiar to a region.

a disease endemic in Africa

When might aboriginal be a better fit than endemic?

The words aboriginal and endemic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, aboriginal implies having no known others preceding in occupancy of a particular region.

the aboriginal peoples of Australia

When would indigenous be a good substitute for endemic?

While in some cases nearly identical to endemic, 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 is it sensible to use native instead of endemic?

In some situations, the words native and endemic are roughly equivalent. However, native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it.

native tribal customs

Examples Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of endemic The local community runs informative hikes around the wetlands, which contain eight primate species, including grey-cheeked mangabey and red colobus, endemic only to this region, along with 200 bird species, such as the great blue turaco. Kate Lewis, Travel + Leisure, 17 Oct. 2024 Among the many endemic bird species found in Papua New Guinea is the magnificent Raggiana bird of paradise, which has been on the country’s flag since 1971. David Escribano, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2024 Helping to tackle these endemic issues is more worthwhile than the pursuit of an illusory pact that will leave the United States worse off than before. Frederic Wehrey, Foreign Affairs, 17 Sep. 2024 Scientists believe that the species found in the region are endemic and not present anywhere else on Earth. Devika Rao, theweek, 12 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for endemic 

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Cite this Entry

“Endemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/endemic. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

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