Word
Definitions
01person from India
A1 · Beginner Countable noun
n. a person who comes from the country of India.
n. a citizen or native of the Republic of India.
“My new neighbour is an Indian who moved here to study engineering.”
“The delegation included several prominent Indians who were experts in renewable energy technology.”
02indigenous person
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun American English
n. a member of the people who lived in North or South America before Europeans arrived.
n. a member of any of the indigenous peoples of the Americas, excluding the Inuit, Aleut, and Yupik.
“The museum has a large collection of art made by American Indians.”
“The documentary explores the complex history of the Plains Indians and their relationship with the land.”
Synonyms
03relating to India
A1 · Beginner
adj. relating to the country of India, its people, or its culture.
adj. pertaining to the Republic of India, its inhabitants, or its cultural and linguistic heritage.
“I love Indian food because of all the different spices.”
“The exhibition showcases traditional Indian textiles and their influence on global fashion trends.”
04chess strategy
C1 · Advanced Sports Technical
adj. a type of opening move in a game of chess.
adj. denoting a family of chess openings where Black controls the centre with pieces rather than pawns.
“He decided to play the King's Indian Defence to surprise his opponent.”
“The grandmaster is known for his deep understanding of various Indian systems, particularly the Nimzo-Indian.”
Usage
When referring to people, it is always capitalized. In the sense of a meal, it is an informal British usage.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman indien, Middle French indien, corresponding to Ind + -ian or India + -an. Applied to inhabitants of the Americas due to an early misconception that the Americas were the eastern end of Asia / the Indies (hence also the designation of Caribbean islands as the West Indies).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
Idioms
01. Indian sign
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A1 MoversIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.2.0–3.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 1.0–1.50–23TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.120–224
- Frequency
- Very common
- Level
- A1 · Beginner
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/indian
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0