indigenous

/ɪnˈdɪdʒənəs/

Origin

From Latin "indigenus," meaning "native" or "born within"

Meanings

1. Originating or occurring naturally in a particular place; native.
2. Inherent; innate; inborn.
3. Referring to the earliest known inhabitants of a place.

Example Sentences

1. The kangaroo is an indigenous animal to Australia.
2. Many indigenous cultures have unique traditions that have been passed down for generations.
3. The government is working to protect the rights of indigenous peoples.

Related Words

• Noun: indigene
• Adverb: indigenously
• Antonyms: foreign, exotic, alien

Synonyms

• Native
• Aboriginal
• Autochthonous
• Endemic

Memorization Trick

Think "IN-DI-GEN-ous" as "IN the place's GENES" - referring to something that naturally belongs to a specific place, like it's in the very DNA of that location.