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

Pair this with a red Douro wine, such as a Quinta do Vesúvio—a bucket of aromas of raspberries, strawberry jam and molasses from a blend of three grape varieties endemic to Portugal—Touriga Franca, Touriga Nacional and Tinta Amarela. —Tom Mullen, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

Savage parasites Screwworms were once endemic to the US before a massive eradication effort that began in the 1950s drove the population out of the US and Central America. —Beth Mole, ArsTechnica, 25 Aug. 2025

India is endemic for rabies, the WHO said, accounting for 36% of the world’s rabies deaths. —Rhea Mogul, CNN Money, 22 Aug. 2025

Explore the Florida scrub habitat of Scrub Oak Preserve and search for Florida scrub jays, the only bird species endemic to the state. —Joe Rassel, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 Aug. 2025

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