Synonyms of indigenous

indigenous

adjective

in-ˈdi-jə-nəs 

1

as in aboriginal

belonging to a particular place by birth or origin

the culture of the indigenous people of that country

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

2

as in inherent

being a part of the innermost nature of a person or thing

the drive to create that is indigenous to humanity

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inherent
• intrinsic
• integral
• essential
• native
• constitutional
• natural
• hereditary
• innate
• inbred
• constitutive
• ingrained
• inner
• inherited
• inborn
• immanent
• distinctive
• elemental
• fundamental
• basic
• engrained
• congenital
• internal
• hardwired
• characteristic
• ingrain
• built-in
• in one's blood
• peculiar
• interior
• deep-rooted
• typical
• normal
• habitual
• regular
• inveterate
• inmost

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• foreign
• alien
• extrinsic
• extraneous
• adventitious
• incidental
• accidental
• surface
• coincidental
• external
• acquired
• superficial
• exterior
• adscititious

Synonym Chooser

How is the word indigenous distinct from other similar adjectives?

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

In what contexts can aboriginal take the place of indigenous?

The synonyms aboriginal and indigenous are sometimes interchangeable, but aboriginal implies having no known others preceding in occupancy of a particular region.

the aboriginal peoples of Australia

When could endemic be used to replace indigenous?

While the synonyms endemic and indigenous are close in meaning, endemic implies being peculiar to a region.

a disease endemic in Africa

When is it sensible to use native instead of indigenous?

The words native and indigenous can be used in similar contexts, but native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it.

native tribal customs

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of indigenous

The process was first applied by indigenous communities and first documented by settlers in the late 1600s, with the goal of the Swiss and French, who took a liking to the process being the production of syrup for sale and trade. —Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

The event will focus on amplifying the voices of indigenous peoples and local communities in the Amazon rainforest and aim to raise $1 billion to protect, restore and rewild the Amazon rainforest. —Katie Atkinson, Billboard, 23 Oct. 2025

South Korea launched its first Changbogo-III Batch-II class submarine on Wednesday, marking a major milestone in the country’s push to expand its indigenous naval capabilities. —Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025

Ovando arrived in Hispaniola with 2,500 settlers, including Las Casas, and his rule marked a new phase in Spanish–indigenous peoples’ relations. —Literary Hub, 23 Oct. 2025

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