aboriginal

USAGE SUMMARY

"aboriginal" is a correct word that can be used in written English.
It is used as an adjective to refer to the original inhabitants of a particular place and their descendants or cultural practices. For example, "The book chronicles the stories of the aboriginal people of Australia and their history."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

"The idea, visually, is to be light skin and dark skin, urban, rural and remote from all different parts of Australia, so there is a balanced visualisation of what Aboriginal women look like," Quilliam tells Guardian Australia on the road from Ntaria to Alice Springs.

The Guardian - Arts

"I want to see changes here with us Aboriginal women, to have that voice to speak not only for ourselves but men and women and the younger generations," she says.

The Guardian - Arts

Hawke said he was confident that the answer to long-standing indigenous socioeconomic problems was to allow radioactive waste to be stored on Aboriginal land, and use the revenue to improve living standards.

The Guardian

Tens of thousands of Australians have taken part in protests throughout the country in a fight against the forced closure of Aboriginal communities in Western Australia, with some continuing into Friday night.

The Guardian

Aboriginal celebrants on Sunday morning lit a fire at the Sydney Opera House before the flame, along with offerings from around the world, was carried aboard a boat.

The Guardian

She entered the public sector and did a placement at the Human Rights Commission in Sydney just after the Bringing Them Home report on Aboriginal children stolen from their families was released in 1997.

The Guardian

"Tony Abbott and Malcolm Turnbull have ripped $53.7m out of the SBS budget since the election and now it seems that the only national Aboriginal television news service in the country will become the latest victim of this lie," Clare and Neumann said in a joint statement.

The Guardian

Allira wants to be an actress when she leaves school, just like celebrated Aboriginal actress Deborah Mailman.

The Guardian

Long after phrenology was widely discredited, Aboriginal skulls were still sought and displayed with the same benign sentiment that one might attach to animal remains.

The Guardian

I had some minor consciousness of widespread violence against Tasmania's Aboriginal people, and I was moved by the shameful stories of the forced removal of Aboriginal children.

The Guardian

Several private collectors, meanwhile, donated vast acquisitions of Aboriginal ethnographic material – secret and sacred objects, bark art, hunting weapons and Indigenous bones and body parts.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When referring to a specific group of people, such as the "Aboriginal" peoples of Australia, always capitalize the term.

Common error

Avoid using "aboriginal" in contexts where "indigenous" or "native" might be more appropriate, especially when referring to a global group rather than a specific culture or location.

Linguistic Context

The word "aboriginal" functions primarily as an adjective to describe something related to the original inhabitants of a place, especially Australia. It can also function as a noun, referring to an aboriginal person. Ludwig provides many examples of "aboriginal" being used in both ways.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "aboriginal" is primarily used as an adjective or noun to refer to the original inhabitants of a place, particularly Australia. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. While very common, its usage should be thoughtful, recognizing its specific cultural context. As shown by Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and media sources. When in doubt, consider using "indigenous" or "native" as alternatives, particularly when referring to populations outside of Australia.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indigenous

Focuses on the inherent connection to a specific region or environment.

native

Emphasizes birth or origin in a particular place or country.

first peoples

Highlights the priority of settlement and historical claim to a land.

original inhabitants

Stresses the initial peopling of a territory.

autochthonous

A more formal and less common term for being native to a place.

endemic

Describes something native and restricted to a certain place.

primordial

Implies existence from the very beginning.

earliest settlers

Focuses on the act of settlement in a historical context.

primeval

Suggests a state of being from the earliest times in history.

first nations

Often used in Canada to refer to indigenous peoples.

FAQs

How do you use "aboriginal" in a sentence?

You can use "aboriginal" to describe the first or earliest inhabitants of a region or to refer to their culture and traditions. For example, "The museum features artifacts from the "aboriginal culture"."

What's the difference between "aboriginal" and "indigenous"?

"Aboriginal" specifically refers to the first inhabitants of Australia, while "indigenous" is a more general term for the original inhabitants of any region.

Is it correct to use "aboriginal" to describe native people outside of Australia?

While "aboriginal" technically means "original", it's primarily associated with Australia. Using "indigenous" or "native" is more appropriate for other groups.

What are some synonyms for "aboriginal"?

Synonyms for "aboriginal" include "indigenous", "native", and "first peoples", but the best choice depends on the context.