aboriginal
ab-uh-RIJ-in-ul
/ˌæb.əˈrɪdʒ.ən.əl/
Inhabiting or existing in a land from the earliest known times, before the arrival of colonists.
Often capitalized in specific legal and constitutional contexts (e.g., Australia or Canada) to denote specific legal categories of native inhabitants.
The story behind the word. Roman historian Livy used Aborigines to name the legendary earliest inhabitants of Latium before the founding of Rome. The term combines Latin ab ('from') and origo ('origin'), literally meaning 'those who have been here from the very origin'.
Word relationships
- indigenous: 'Indigenous' is the broader international umbrella term, while 'aboriginal' often carries precise constitutional meaning in specific jurisdictions.
- primordial: 'Primordial' relates to the beginning of time generally, not specifically human populations.
- settler: A person who arrives in a new area to establish permanent residence.
- immigrant: A person who moves to a country from abroad.
Commonly confused with
- original: 'Original' means first in order, but lacks the specific legal and historical connotations of 'aboriginal'.
Word family
- aborigine (noun): An original inhabitant
- aboriginality (noun): The state or quality of being aboriginal
Collocations
- aboriginal title
- aboriginal inhabitants
- aboriginal heritage
- aboriginal rights
Example sentences
- "The treaty recognized aboriginal rights over traditional hunting and fishing territories." Constitutional law
- "Aboriginal rock art sites in Arnhem Land date back tens of thousands of years." Archaeology
Memory hook
AB-ORIGIN-al = ABsolute ORIGIN from the start. From the origin.
When not to use
Avoid using as a lower-case singular noun for individuals when specific endonyms are preferred by the community.
Fun facts
- Before being applied to Australian or Canadian First Nations, 'Aborigines' referred to mythical pre-Roman tribes in central Italy.
Related words
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