# aboriginal

/ˌæbɝˈɪdʒənəɫ/ (US) · /ˌæbəɹˈɪdʒɪnəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aboriginal
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. indigenous or original

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

describing people, plants, or animals that have lived in a place from the earliest known times.

For teachers: pertaining to the indigenous inhabitants or native flora and fauna of a region, existing from the earliest recorded history.

- The museum has a large collection of aboriginal art from various islands.
- The researchers studied the aboriginal plant species to understand how the ecosystem functioned before the introduction of European crops.

Usage: Often used in a general scientific or historical sense when not capitalized.

### 2. Australian Indigenous

adjective · CEFR B2 · American English · British English

relating to the first people who lived in Australia.

For teachers: specifically relating to the Indigenous peoples of Australia, their languages, or their cultures.

- We learned about Aboriginal history during our trip to Sydney.
- The government has introduced new initiatives to preserve Aboriginal languages that are at risk of being lost.

Teaching tip: In modern usage, this sense is almost always capitalized (Aboriginal). In Australia, many people now prefer the terms 'Indigenous Australians' or 'First Nations people'.

## Examples

- The museum features a collection of Aboriginal art.
- Researchers are studying aboriginal plant names to understand how the landscape was managed before colonial arrival.
- The legal recognition of aboriginal title to the land marked a significant shift in the country's judicial approach to indigenous rights and historical sovereignty.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.