English · Word Candidate

aboriginal

/ˌæb.əˈɹɪd͡ʒ.ɪ.nəl/

Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.

Also seen as: aboriginals

Sense 1

Meaning · English

First according to historical or scientific records; original; indigenous; primitive.

Adjective

Examples

Green in the Church-yard, beautiful and green; / […] / And mantled o'er with aboriginal turf / And everlasting flowers.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Living in a land before colonization by foreigners.

Adjective

Examples

Where else but from Nantucket did those aboriginal whalemen, the Red-Men, first sally out in canoes to give chase to the Leviathan?

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 3

Meaning · English

An animal or plant native to a region.

Noun

Examples

It may be welldoubted whether this frog is an aboriginal of these islands.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Sense 4

Meaning · English

Of or pertaining to Australian Aboriginal peoples, or their languages.

Adjective

Examples

Academics who study Aboriginal languages are [...] contributing to Man’s search for knowledge, a search that interests most people even if they are not personally involved in it.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “aboriginal” mean?

First according to historical or scientific records; original; indigenous; primitive.

Is “aboriginal” formal or informal?

No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.