aborigine

IPA/ˌæbəˈrɪdʒəni/
KK[ˌæbɚˈɪdʒəni]IPA/ˌæbəˈrɪdʒəni/

aborigine — noun

  • aboriginesingular
  • aboriginesplural

1. a dated and now offensive term for a person whose ancestors are the original inh

1.名詞B2
釋義

a dated and now offensive term for a person whose ancestors are the original inhabitants of Australia — today, Aboriginal Australian or the person's specific community name is the respectful choice

例句

Kwame read that 'aborigine' is now considered offensive by most Australians.

The old textbook used the word 'aborigine,' which the teacher corrected in class.

offensive term corrected to 'Aboriginal Australian' in educational settings

同義詞
反義詞
  • settler

    a person who arrived in Australia from overseas, especially during colonisation

  • colonist

    a person involved in establishing colonial control over Australian land

用法筆記

This term is now widely regarded as offensive by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. Use 'Aboriginal Australian', 'Aboriginal person', or the person's specific nation or language group name (such as Yolngu, Wiradjuri, or Noongar) instead.

常見錯誤

❌I met an aborigine at the conference.
✅I met an Aboriginal Australian at the conference.
💡using 'aborigine' in casual conversation is offensive; always use the respectful alternative.
❌The aborigines of Australia have a rich culture.
✅Aboriginal Australians have a rich culture.
💡even in descriptive or well-meaning contexts, the term is considered disrespectful.

2. a person belonging to the group that first lived in a particular country or regi

2.名詞C1
釋義

a person belonging to the group that first lived in a particular country or region, especially before settlers or colonisers arrived from elsewhere

例句

Sanjay studied the aborigines of the Andaman Islands for his anthropology thesis.

aborigines + of [place name] for specific indigenous groups

The aborigines of Taiwan have lived on the island for thousands of years.

同義詞
  • indigenous inhabitant

    more current and neutral; avoids colonial-era associations

  • native

    can be offensive depending on context — use with caution and prefer specific group names

  • first peoples

    respectful term emphasising prior habitation and ongoing presence

  • autochthon

    very formal, rare anthropological term; not suitable for everyday use

反義詞
  • settler

    a person who moves into a region from outside, often displacing original inhabitants

  • colonist

    a person who settles in a territory under the authority of a foreign power

  • immigrant

    a person who comes to live in a country from abroad

用法筆記

Distinguish from sense 1: this general anthropological meaning refers to any region's original inhabitants, not specifically Australia. In contemporary usage, 'Indigenous peoples' or the group's own name is usually preferred.

常見錯誤

❌Columbus met the aborigines of America.
✅Columbus encountered the Indigenous peoples of the Americas.
💡'aborigine' in this general sense can still sound dated; 'Indigenous peoples' is now preferred in most contexts.