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

The National Museum of the American Indian recalls how Indigenous peoples suffered theft, loss of their homelands, enslavement, death, forced displacement and disrupted cultural traditions due to European settlement. —Jenna Prestininzi, Freep.com, 12 Oct. 2025

It is estimated that in the 130 years following Columbus' landing, Native America lost 95 percent of its population, according to the National Museum of the American Indian. —Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025

The Curt & Catherine Locklear American Indian Heritage Center is based on the campus. —Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 4 Oct. 2025

Most are in Washington, DC, but two — design museum Cooper Hewitt and National Museum of the American Indian — are in New York City. —Jeanne Bonner, CNN Money, 30 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1650, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for American Indian

• amerindian

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