aborigines

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "aborigines" is correct and can be used in written English.
You can use it to refer to the native people of a country, often living in tribal societies, before the arrival of Europeans. Example sentence: The aborigines of Australia have a fascinating history that is worth exploring.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

But so is a group of Aborigines sleeping rough in a city park, or an aboriginal girl in the outback, her eyes sticky from the Trachoma infection.

The Guardian

The white people never looked at the Aborigines and the Aborigines never looked at the white people.

The Guardian

"The people on the street were overwhelmingly white Australians but there were Aborigines about too – not great numbers of them, but always there, on the edge of frame, unobtrusive, nearly always silent, peripheral.

The Guardian

Not wanting to get it wrong in his portrayal of Aborigines, McGovern chose not to include any indigenous characters at all.

The Guardian

The Aborigines are charged more in shops than the whitefellas, and they live in the most basic public housing.

The Economist

The main beneficiaries seem to have been the lawyers.Also promising at first, but in the end even more disappointing, has been a policy of returning land to the Aborigines.

The Economist

Today, there are just 400,000 Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders (natives of the far north).In every sense, the Aborigines are at the bottom of the heap in Australia.

The Economist

Nuns, Chechens and Aborigines ReprintsNo less accomplished in a quite different vein is Patrice Leconte's "L'homme du train".

The Economist

The issue is especially sensitive in the ore-rich Pilbara, where aborigines comprise 20% of the population (compared with 2% Australia-wide).

The Economist

"When you have only one side of the story, immigrants, women and aborigines aren't going to have an investment in it".Australia is a country where a relatively gentle (by world standards) effort to reimpose a sort of national ideology looks destined to fail.

The Economist

Aborigines now comprise about 2% of Australia's population.The apology will carry much broader symbolic meaning for a people whose forebears occupied Australia for tens of thousands of years before the British claimed it in 1788.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider the specific region you are discussing. For example, "Aboriginal Australians" refers specifically to the indigenous peoples of Australia.

Common error

Avoid using derogatory or outdated terms like "Abo". Always opt for respectful and accurate terms such as "Aboriginal Australians" or "indigenous peoples".

Linguistic Context

The term "aborigines" functions primarily as a plural noun. It is used to refer to the original inhabitants of a particular region or country. Ludwig's AI validates that it can be used to refer to the native people of a country, often living in tribal societies, before the arrival of Europeans.

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 "aborigines" refers to the original inhabitants of a region, most commonly associated with the indigenous peoples of Australia. While grammatically correct and frequently used, as confirmed by Ludwig, it's essential to employ this term with respect and sensitivity, considering more specific designations like "Aboriginal Australians" where appropriate. The term appears most frequently in News & Media sources. When writing about this topic, avoid outdated or offensive language and always aim for accuracy and cultural sensitivity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

indigenous peoples

Refers to native populations, broader in scope than a specific group.

native inhabitants

Focuses on the people originally living in a place.

original inhabitants

Emphasizes the temporal aspect of being the first settlers.

native populations

Highlights the demographic aspect of indigenous communities.

first peoples

Emphasizes priority and historical presence.

indigenous communities

Focuses on the social aspect of native groups.

aboriginal people

More common in specific regional contexts like Australia.

tribal communities

Highlights the tribal structure of some indigenous societies.

native tribes

Similar to tribal communities, emphasizing tribal affiliation.

autochthonous population

A more formal and scientific term for native inhabitants.

FAQs

What does "aborigines" mean?

The term "aborigines" refers to the original or earliest known inhabitants of a region or country. It's often used to describe the indigenous peoples of Australia.

Is it appropriate to use the term "aborigines"?

While "aborigines" is a general term for original inhabitants, it is often more respectful to use more specific terms like "Aboriginal Australians" or "indigenous peoples", depending on the context. Using more specific terminology acknowledges the unique cultural identities of different groups.

What are some synonyms for "aborigines"?

Synonyms include "indigenous peoples", "native inhabitants", and "original inhabitants". The best choice depends on the specific context and the group being discussed.

What is the difference between "aborigines" and "Aboriginal Australians"?

"Aborigines" is a general term referring to any original inhabitants of a region. "Aboriginal Australians" specifically refers to the indigenous peoples of Australia. Using the latter is more precise when discussing Australian indigenous people.