¹endemic

adjective en·dem·ic \en-ˈde-mik, in-\

: growing or existing in a certain place or region

: common in a particular area or field

Full Definition of ENDEMIC

a : belonging or native to a particular people or country

b : characteristic of or prevalent in a particular field, area, or environment <problems endemic to translation> <the self-indulgence endemic in the film industry>

: restricted or peculiar to a locality or region <endemic diseases> <an endemic species>

— en·dem·i·cal·ly \-ˈde-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

— en·de·mic·i·ty \ˌen-ˌde-ˈmi-sə-tē, -də-ˈmi-\ noun

— en·de·mism \ˈen-də-ˌmi-zəm\ noun

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Examples of ENDEMIC

Divorce has become so endemic in our society that a whole lore has risen up around it: that divorce is a temporary crisis; that so many children have experienced their parents' divorce that children nowadays do not worry much about it; that in fact it makes things easier, and it is itself a mere rite of passage; that if the parents feel better, so will the children. —Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, New Republic, 6 May 2002
The rap performers I enjoy are those who emphasize production values, songcraft and that quality of playfulness endemic to all good pop. —Francis Davis, Atlantic, October 1993
Situated only 250 miles off the coast of Africa, Madagascar is biologically unique. Not only does it have a rich animal and plant life, it also houses a huge number of endemic species found nowhere else on earth. —Jim Milliot et al., Publishers Weekly, 15 May 2000
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Origin of ENDEMIC

French endémique, from endémie endemic disease, from Greek endēmia action of dwelling, from endēmos endemic, from en in + dēmos people, populace — more at demagogue

First Known Use: 1759

Related to ENDEMIC

Synonyms: aboriginal, autochthonous, born, domestic, native, indigenous

Antonyms: nonindigenous, nonnative

Synonym Discussion of ENDEMIC

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>.