Dictionary

1aboriginal

adjective ab·orig·i·nal \ˌa-bə-ˈrij-nəl, -ˈri-jə-nəl\

: of or relating to the people and things that have been in a region from the earliest time

: of or relating to the native people of Australia : of or relating to Australian aborigines

Full Definition of ABORIGINAL

1
:  being the first or earliest known of its kind present in a region <aboriginal forests> <aboriginal rocks>
2
a :  of or relating to aborigines
b often capitalized :  of or relating to the indigenous peoples of Australia
ab·orig·i·nal·ly adverb
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First Known Use of ABORIGINAL

1650

Synonym Discussion of ABORIGINAL

native, indigenous, endemic, aboriginal mean belonging to a locality. native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it <native tribal customs>. indigenous applies to species or races and adds to native the implication of not having been introduced from elsewhere <maize is indigenous to America>. endemic implies being peculiar to a region <edelweiss is endemic in the Alps>. aboriginal implies having no known race preceding in occupancy of the region <the aboriginal peoples of Australia>.

Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt

2aboriginal

noun

Definition of ABORIGINAL

1
:  aborigine 1
2
often capitalized :  aborigine 2

First Known Use of ABORIGINAL

1749

Related to ABORIGINAL

Synonyms
aborigine, autochthon, indigene (also indigen), native
Antonyms
nonnative

Other Anthropology Terms

ectomorph, ethnography, prehistory, yurt
ABORIGINAL Defined for Kids

aboriginal

adjective ab·orig·i·nal \ˌa-bə-ˈri-jə-nəl\

Definition of ABORIGINAL for Kids

1
:  being the first of its kind in a region <aboriginal plants>
2
:  of or relating to the original people living in a region

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