indigenous
indigenous — adjective
1. describes people whose ancestors were the first human groups to inhabit a land,
describes people whose ancestors were the first human groups to inhabit a land, particularly before colonizers or settlers arrived from other places.
The indigenous peoples of Australia have lived on the continent for over 60,000 years.
collocation: indigenous peoples / indigenous communities
Noa's research focuses on the land rights of indigenous groups in the Amazon rainforest.
The museum now displays art created by local indigenous artists from Taiwan.
Joaquín learned about the traditions of the indigenous communities during his travels in Peru.
Many indigenous languages are at risk of disappearing as older speakers pass away.
- native
more general; can mean 'born in a place' for any person, not just original inhabitants
- aboriginal
more specific to Australia and Canada; often capitalized as a proper noun
- original
less precise as a synonym, but conveys the idea of 'first' or 'earliest'
文法句型
indigenous + noun (peoples / communities / culture / rights)
用法筆記
When referring to specific ethnic groups, 'Indigenous' is often capitalized as a proper adjective (e.g., 'Indigenous Australians'), reflecting the group's identity status rather than a general description. Distinguish from sense 2 (plants/animals) and sense 3 (locally originating things).
常見錯誤
2. describes plants or animals that develop and live naturally within a given area,
describes plants or animals that develop and live naturally within a given area, suited to the local environment rather than brought there by people.
The eucalyptus tree is indigenous to Australia but now grows in many other parts of the world.
pattern: [species] + is indigenous to + [place]
Gita's garden only contains plants that are indigenous to the island, so they need very little care.
When non-indigenous animals are brought into a new area, they can harm the local wildlife.
The park ranger explained which birds are indigenous to this forest and which visit each season.
Farmers are encouraged to grow crops that are indigenous to the region because they need fewer chemicals.
- introduced
brought to the area by humans
- invasive
introduced species that spreads aggressively and harms local ecosystems
- exotic
from a foreign place, often brought intentionally for gardens or farms
文法句型
[species] + be + indigenous + to + [place]
用法筆記
This sense typically requires the preposition 'to' after the adjective: 'indigenous to [place].' The subject is always a living organism or group of organisms. Distinguish from sense 1 (people) and sense 3 (objects, resources, or ideas).
常見錯誤
3. describes something that comes from or belongs to the area where it exists, rath
describes something that comes from or belongs to the area where it exists, rather than being brought in or imported from outside.
The village uses indigenous building materials such as bamboo and clay instead of imported bricks.
collocation: indigenous materials / indigenous resources
Hoa argued that indigenous knowledge of herbal medicine can be as effective as modern treatments.
The resort claims to use only indigenous foods grown on the island itself.
Kwame studied how indigenous customs survived after foreign influences arrived in the region.
The mining plan was rejected by groups who wanted to protect indigenous resources.
- local
less formal and more general; 'local materials' is the everyday alternative
- home-grown
informal; used for ideas, food, or products developed internally rather than imported
- domestic
used for products or resources originating within a country's borders
文法句型
indigenous + noun (materials / resources / customs / knowledge)
用法筆記
This broader sense covers resources, customs, knowledge, or materials that originate in the local area. It overlaps with senses 1 and 2 but applies where neither people nor living organisms are the subject. Frequently used in discussions about sustainability and traditional practices.