aborigine meaning: definition, etymology and quotations

aborigine

nounalso spelled Aborigine

US /ˌæb.əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.ni/

Etymology Back-formation from aborigines.

A native inhabitant of a country; a member of the original people.

In plural The native flora and fauna of an area.

Derived terms: Aboriginal, nonaborigine

Aborigine

noun

US /ˌæb.əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ə.ni/

Etymology Back-formation from Aborigines.

Dated, Offensive An Aboriginal person from Australia (descending from, or a member of, one of the indigenous people(s) before British colonisation), Aboriginal Australian.

Aborigines not to be counted in reckoning population.1900, Parliament of the United Kingdom, “Section 127 side notes, Constitution of the Commonwealth of Australia”, in Commonwealth of Australia Constitution Actᵂⁱᵏⁱˢᵒᵘʳᶜᵉ, page 21:

Synonyms: Aboriginal, Aboriginal people, Aboriginal Australian
Hypernyms: Australoid, Indigenous Australian