aborigine
gb/ˌæbɚˈɪd͡ʒəni/ us/ˌæbɚˈɪd͡ʒəni/
C1
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
C1
entity
1
Indigenous person of Australia
an Indigenous Australian person
Usage pattern:
an aborigine; aborigines
Common mistake:
In Australian English, many people consider Aborigine (especially as a singular noun) dated or offensive; prefer Aboriginal person, Aboriginal Australian, or Indigenous Australian.
Synonyms
Aboriginal person (Commonly preferred and more respectful in many contexts.)
|
Indigenous Australian (Broader, more formal term that includes Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.)
Antonyms
non-Indigenous Australian (Someone in Australia who is not Indigenous.)
Collocations
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
|Aborigine community
|Aborigine culture
|Aborigine languages
|Aborigine art
|Aborigine rights
|Aborigine leader
|Aborigine activist
|Aborigine heritage
|Aborigine history
Themes
australia
|culture
|society
|history
Examples
- The museum consulted local Aboriginal elders before displaying items connected to Aborigine history.
- The documentary follows an Aborigine artist who works with traditional techniques and modern materials.
- In some contexts, people avoid the word aborigine and use Aboriginal person instead.
Learner examples
- She is an Indigenous Australian.
- The school invited an Aboriginal speaker.
Noun
formal
C1
entity
2
Original inhabitant of a place
a person whose people lived in a place first
Usage pattern:
aborigines of [place]
Common mistake:
In modern English, aborigine is most strongly associated with Australia; for other places, indigenous people or native inhabitants is usually clearer.
Synonyms
indigenous person (Most common modern term; neutral and widely applicable.)
|
native inhabitant (More general; can apply to people without the political/cultural meaning of indigenous.)
Antonyms
newcomer (Someone who arrived later rather than being an original inhabitant.)
|
settler (Someone who moved to a place and established a community there.)
Collocations
the aborigines of [region]
|local aborigines
|the land's aborigines
|the original aborigines
|aborigine populations
Themes
society
|history
|culture
Examples
- Early accounts described the island’s aborigines and their trading routes.
- The book compares the customs of the aborigines of several regions.
Learner examples
- Indigenous people lived there first.
Noun
technical
C2
entity
3
Native plant or animal
a plant or animal that originally lives in a place
Usage pattern:
an aborigine of [region]
Common mistake:
This meaning is rare in everyday English; native species or indigenous species is far more common.
Synonyms
native species (Standard modern term in ecology.)
|
indigenous species (Common in scientific and environmental contexts.)
Antonyms
introduced species (A species brought to a place by humans, intentionally or not.)
|
invasive species (An introduced species that spreads and causes harm.)
Collocations
local aborigines (of flora)
|aborigines of the region (in flora and fauna studies)
Themes
nature
|biology
Examples
- The report distinguishes between aborigines and introduced species in the wetland ecosystem.
- Several aborigines of the valley have declined due to habitat loss.
Grammar
Dictionary form
aborigine
IPA
GB/ˌæbɚˈɪd͡ʒəni/
US/ˌæbɚˈɪd͡ʒəni/
Syllables & stress
ab - ori - gine (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (ori)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: aborigine
- Plural: aborigines
Word family
Forms
aborigines
noun
Core family
aboriginal
adjective B2
Advanced or less common
aboriginality
noun
Expressions
aborigine art
1/ˌæbɚˈɪd͡ʒəni ˈɑɹt/
fixed phrase
Art by Aboriginal Australians
art made by Aboriginal Australians
Examples
- The gallery has a large collection of Aboriginal art from the central desert.
- She studies motifs and materials used in Aboriginal art.
aborigine community
1/ˌæbɚˈɪd͡ʒəni kəmjˈunɪti/
fixed phrase
Aboriginal community in Australia
a community of Aboriginal Australians
Examples
- The program was designed in partnership with an Aboriginal community in the region.
- The report describes challenges faced by some remote Aboriginal communities.
aborigine languages
1/ˌæbɚˈɪd͡ʒəni lˈæŋɡwɪd͡ʒɪz/
fixed phrase
Languages of Aboriginal Australians
the languages of Aboriginal Australians
Examples
- Several Aboriginal languages are being taught again in local schools.
- The project records stories in Aboriginal languages to help preserve them.
australian aborigine
1/ɔstɹˈeɪljən ˌæbɚˈɪd͡ʒəni/
fixed phrase
Indigenous person of Australia
an Indigenous Australian person
Examples
- Older texts sometimes use the phrase Australian Aborigine, but many writers now prefer Aboriginal Australian.
- The exhibition highlights the work of Aboriginal Australian artists.