Synonyms of endemic

endemic

adjective

en-ˈde-mik 

as in indigenous

belonging to a particular place by birth or origin

the fish is not an endemic species of the lake, and it is rapidly devouring the native trout population

Synonyms & Similar Words

• indigenous
• aboriginal
• native
• autochthonous
• local
• domestic
• born
• regional
• original

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• introduced
• foreign
• exotic
• nonindigenous
• nonnative
• strange
• alien
• immigrant
• transplanted
• imported
• expatriate

Synonym Chooser

How is the word endemic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of endemic are aboriginal, indigenous, and native. While all these words mean "belonging to a locality," endemic implies being peculiar to a region.

a disease endemic in Africa

When might aboriginal be a better fit than endemic?

The words aboriginal and endemic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, aboriginal implies having no known others preceding in occupancy of a particular region.

the aboriginal peoples of Australia

When would indigenous be a good substitute for endemic?

While in some cases nearly identical to endemic, indigenous applies to that which is not only native but which, as far as can be determined, has never been introduced or brought from elsewhere.

indigenous plants

When is it sensible to use native instead of endemic?

In some situations, the words native and endemic are roughly equivalent. However, native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it.

native tribal customs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of endemic

California is a global biodiversity hotspot, with both the highest total number of species and the highest number of endemic species in the United States – including our new state shrub and snake. —Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Oct. 2025

Alstott saw the incident as endemic to settings such as London that take NFL teams out of their comfort zones. —Michael Silver, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025

Long ago, this ferocious fly was endemic in the US and stymied the livestock industry. —Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 24 Sep. 2025

Such cost estimating issues remain endemic, according to the GAO. —Davis Winkie, USA Today, 22 Sep. 2025

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