as in indigenous
belonging to a particular place by birth or origin
an illegally introduced Asian fish that has virtually wiped out the lake's autochthonous species
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Recent Examples of autochthonous
Giovanna Caruso is the fourth generation of Caruso& Minini, a winery appreciated for its wines made both with autochthonous grapes (such as Grillo, Zibibbo, Perricone, Frappato, Nero d’Avola) and international varieties (such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot).
—
Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Far from being autochthonous, folk music is often influenced by the music of cities and courts, the seeds spread by travelers, merchants, migrants, itinerant players, refugees.
—Evan Eisenberg, WSJ, 24 May 2018
Alternatively, maybe the idea of coffee wasn't really autochthonous.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2013
Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Far from being autochthonous, folk music is often influenced by the music of cities and courts, the seeds spread by travelers, merchants, migrants, itinerant players, refugees.
—Evan Eisenberg, WSJ, 24 May 2018
Alternatively, maybe the idea of coffee wasn't really autochthonous.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2013
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autochthonous
Adjective
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The mass exodus at the Toronto Film Critics Association is gathering pace after indigenous actress and filmmaker Elle-Máijá Tailfeathers returned her award trophy following the alleged censorship of her video acceptance speech, which included remarks in support of Palestine.—
Adam Benzine,
HollywoodReporter,
5 Mar. 2026
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Iran and its proxies accuse Israel of conducting a campaign of mass murder, persecution and ethnic cleansing against indigenous Palestinians, charges that Israel rejects.—
Foreign Correspondent,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Once an aboriginal title is recognized, its holders can collect formal and informal rents from those who seek to develop what is Indigenous land.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
27 Dec. 2025
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The woman is also described as aboriginal, around 5 foot tall, wearing a black beanie, white T-shirt, and maroon hoodie.—
Escher Walcott,
PEOPLE,
3 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Autochthonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autochthonous. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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