# Indian

/ˈɪndiən/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. person from India

noun · CEFR A1

a person who comes from the country of India.

For teachers: 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.

### 3. indigenous person

noun · CEFR B1 · American English

a member of the people who lived in North or South America before Europeans arrived.

For teachers: 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.

Teaching tip: In modern North American English, 'Native American' or 'Indigenous' is usually preferred in formal or respectful contexts to avoid confusion with people from India.

### 4. relating to India

adjective · CEFR A1

relating to the country of India, its people, or its culture.

For teachers: 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.

### 5. chess strategy

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical

a type of opening move in a game of chess.

For teachers: 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.

## Examples

- We are going out for an Indian tonight.
- My neighbor is an Indian who moved here last year to work as a software engineer.
- The local high street features several competing restaurants, but most residents agree that the small family-run Indian serves the most authentic regional cuisine.

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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.