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American Indian. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
American Indian, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
American Indian in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
American Indian you have here. The definition of the word
American Indian will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
American Indian, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
English
Etymology
American + Indian. The noun is attested since 1702, the adjective since shortly thereafter.
Pronunciation
Noun
American Indian (plural American Indians)
- A member of some indigenous peoples of the Americas, especially the continental United States, but excluding the Inuit, Yupik, and Aleuts.
- (Canada) An indigenous person from the United States.
Usage notes
- The term American Indian is generally accepted and sometimes replaced by Native American. However, it may cause offense if intended to include Canadian First Nations people.
- This term can sometimes be confused with 'Indian-American' (i.e. an immigrant or descendant of an immigrant from India).
- According to the National Museum of the American Indian, American Indian, Indian, Native American, Indigenous, or Native are commonly acceptable terms. However, Native people often prefer to be called by their specific tribal name.
Synonyms
Translations
Adjective
American Indian (comparative more American Indian, superlative most American Indian)
- Relating to the indigenous peoples of the Americas or their languages.
See also