American Indian

noun

plural American Indians

: a member of any of the Indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere except often certain peoples (such as the Yupik and Inuit) who live in arctic regions

especially : an American Indian of North America and especially the U.S. compare native american

American Indian adjective

Examples of American Indian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Compared to white women, Asian American and Pacific Islanders, American Indian and Alaska Natives, Black and Hispanic women are all more likely to develop breast cancer at a younger age, the report found. —Kaitlin Sullivan, NBC News, 1 Oct. 2024

There's an organization called the American Indian Alaska Native Tourism Association. —Taylor Wilson, USA TODAY, 30 Sep. 2024

Lakewood’s growing 40 West Arts District will for the second year host the Denver American Indian Festival, a free and family- friendly event that brings together Indigenous music, crafts, food, dance and interactive workshops. —John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2024

The company also provides scholarship support to students annually through its partnership with the Institute of American Indian Arts. —Lisa Lockwood, WWD, 18 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

American Indian

noun

: a member of any of the Indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere except often certain peoples (as the Yupik and Inuit) who live in arctic regions

especially : an American Indian of North America and especially the U.S.

American Indian adjective