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noun

aborigines

Aborigines (noun) means the original or earliest known inhabitants of a region. Example: “Historians study the customs of the region's aborigines before European contact.”

noun
1
The original or earliest known inhabitants of a region.
"Historians study the customs of the region's aborigines before European contact."

How to Use Aborigines

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe first known people to live in a particular place.

When to use it

When referring to Australia's indigenous peoples, "Aboriginal peoples" or specific nation names are generally preferred today over "Aborigines," which some consider outdated or offensive.

Word Forms

the Aborigines plural

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Historians study the customs of the region's _____ before European contact.

Etymology

A learned borrowing from Latin aborigines, plural, "the original inhabitants."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for aborigines

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Frequently Asked Questions

What does “aborigines” mean?

The word “aborigines” means the original or earliest known inhabitants of a region. In plain terms, the first known people to live in a particular place.

How do you use “aborigines” in a sentence?

Here is “aborigines” used in a sentence: “Historians study the customs of the region's aborigines before European contact.”

What part of speech is “aborigines”?

“Aborigines” is a noun.

Where does the word “aborigines” come from?

The word “aborigines” comes from Latin. A learned borrowing from Latin aborigines, plural, "the original inhabitants.".

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