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What is the difference between indigenous and aboriginal?

indigenous | aboriginal | Synonyms |

Aboriginal is a synonym of indigenous.



As adjectives the difference between indigenous and aboriginal

is that indigenous is born or engendered in, native to a land or region, especially before an intrusion while aboriginal is first according to historical or scientific records; original; indigenous; primitive.

As a noun aboriginal is

an animal or plant native to a region.

As a proper noun Aboriginal is

any of the native languages spoken by Australian aborigines.

indigenous

English

Adjective

(-)
  • (chiefly, of living things) Born or engendered in, native to a land or region, especially before an intrusion.
  • * 1862 , , "Wild Apples: The History of the Apple Tree":
  • Not only the Indian, but many indigenous insects, birds, and quadrupeds, welcomed the apple-tree to these shores.
  • Innate, inborn.
  • * 1852 , , Uncle Tom's Cabin , ch. 18:
  • She was a native and essential cook, as much as Aunt Chloe,—cooking being an indigenous talent of the African race.
  • * 1883 , , "Stephen Archer" in Stephen Archer and Other Tales :
  • He had all the tricks of a newspaper boy indigenous in him.

    Synonyms

    * (born or engendered in) aboriginal, autochthonous, native

    Derived terms

    * indigenity * indigenously * indigenousness * nonindigenous

    aboriginal

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • First according to historical or scientific records; original; indigenous; primitive.
  • * 1814 , , The Excursion , Longman et al. (publishers), [http://books.google.com/books?id=T18JAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA277&dq=aboriginal page 277]:
  • Green in the Church-yard, beautiful and green; / / And mantled o'er with aboriginal turf / And everlasting flowers.
  • Living in a land before colonization by the Europeans.
  • (Aboriginal)
  • Synonyms

    * (indigenous to a place) native, indigenous, autochthonous, endemic, original, first, earliest, primitive, ancient, primordial, primeval

    Derived terms

    * aboriginality * aboriginally

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An animal or plant native to a region.
  • * Charles Darwin
  • It may well be doubted whether this frog is an aboriginal of these islands.
  • (Aboriginal)
  • Usage notes

    * Using uncapitalized aboriginal to refer to people or anything associated with people may cause offence. * In Canada, style manuals recommend against using the noun Aboriginal for a person or people. * See also the usage notes under Aboriginal .

    References

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