# indigenous person

CEFR B2 · Compound

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/indigenous-person
Updated: 2026-07-31

## Definition

a person whose ancestors were the first people to live in a particular country or region before others arrived.

For teachers: a member of the original inhabitants of a region, typically in contrast to later colonial settlers or immigrants. The term is often used in legal and human rights contexts to recognize specific cultural and historical ties to a land.

## Examples

- The museum features art made by an indigenous person from this valley.
- The conference invited an indigenous person from each tribe to speak about their community's water rights.
- International law increasingly recognizes the right of an indigenous person to maintain their traditional language and ancestral customs within a modern state.

## Pitfalls

- Not "He is an indigenous." but "He is an indigenous person." — 'Indigenous' is an adjective and requires a noun like 'person', 'people', or 'inhabitant' to follow it.

## Usage notes

- Capitalize 'Indigenous' when referring to specific groups or as a mark of respect in formal writing.
- Teaching tip: Contrast with 'native' (which can be ambiguous) and 'aboriginal' (often specific to Australia); 'Indigenous' is currently the preferred international term in academic and official settings.

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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.