as in indigenous
belonging to a particular place by birth or origin
an illegally introduced Asian fish that has virtually wiped out the lake's autochthonous species
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Recent Examples of autochthonous
In contrast, Ethiopian Jews (Beta Israel) and Indian Jews (Bene Israel and Cochini) cluster with neighbouring autochthonous populations in Ethiopia and western India, respectively, despite a clear paternal link between the Bene Israel and the Levant.
—
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2010
Alternatively, maybe the idea of coffee wasn't really autochthonous.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2013
Far from being autochthonous, folk music is often influenced by the music of cities and courts, the seeds spread by travelers, merchants, migrants, itinerant players, refugees.
—Evan Eisenberg, WSJ, 24 May 2018
Razib Khan, Discover Magazine, 10 June 2010
Alternatively, maybe the idea of coffee wasn't really autochthonous.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2013
Far from being autochthonous, folk music is often influenced by the music of cities and courts, the seeds spread by travelers, merchants, migrants, itinerant players, refugees.
—Evan Eisenberg, WSJ, 24 May 2018
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autochthonous
Adjective
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European settlers generally took over and developed the most fertile land, eventually erasing signs of past indigenous practices with their own plowing and development.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
6 June 2025
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Researchers worked in collaboration with indigenous communities, various international institutions and archaeologists, according to the release, and were able to study over 800 DNA samples from ancient human remains and recent medical cases showing signs of leprosy.—
Nick Butler,
FOXNews.com,
5 June 2025
Adjective
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The evolutionary anthropologist Joseph Henrich has summoned the example of the aboriginal Tasmanians, who were cut off from mainland Australia about ten thousand years ago.—
Gideon Lewis-Kraus,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
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Before the colonization of Australia, many aboriginal people buried dingoes with rites indistinguishable from those used for humans.—
Rafil Kroll-Zaidi,
Harper's Magazine,
2 Jan. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Autochthonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autochthonous. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.
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