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.nounB2
Definition

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

Example

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

Common collocations
  • Australian aborigine
  • Tasmanian aborigine
Synonyms
Antonyms
  • settler

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

  • colonist

    a person involved in establishing colonial control over Australian land

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

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.nounC1
Definition

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

Example

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.

Common collocations
  • aborigines of [place]
  • the aborigines of Taiwan
  • local aborigines
Synonyms
  • 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

Antonyms
  • 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

Usage Note

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.

Common Mistakes

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.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Aboriginal Australian is the standard respectful everyday term, used in conversation, media, and education. Indigenous Australian appears more often in formal and government documents — it has a slightly broader scope and can encompass Torres Strait Islander peoples alongside Aboriginal peoples. First Nations Australian is a newer, increasingly common term that explicitly recognises prior sovereignty and is favoured in political and advocacy contexts. While all three are respectful alternatives to 'aborigine', the best choice depends on context: use Aboriginal Australian in everyday speech, Indigenous Australian in formal writing, and First Nations Australian when emphasising historical and political rights. For example, you might say 'My neighbour is an Aboriginal Australian artist' but see 'Indigenous Australian communities face significant health gaps' in a government report, and hear 'First Nations Australians have cared for this land for over 60,000 years' at a public ceremony.

Aboriginal AustralianIndigenous AustralianFirst Nations Australian

Common collocations

Prepositions

  • aborigine of
  • aborigine in

Etymology

LatinEnglish

From Latin aborigines (plural), meaning 'the first inhabitants' — a word formed from ab origine, 'from the beginning'. The term was first used in English in the 16th century to refer to the original inhabitants of Latium, the region around Rome in ancient Italy. By the 18th century it was being applied broadly to Indigenous peoples worldwide. In the 19th century it became especially associated with the Indigenous peoples of Australia, where it was used officially until the late 20th century, when Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities successfully campaigned for its replacement with more respectful terms.