autochthon

Definition of autochthonnext
as in aborigine
a member of the first people to inhabit a region the remains of a settlement once occupied by the island's autochthons are much older than previously thought

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for autochthon
Noun
  • The Guanches were aborigines of the Canary Islands.
    JP Mangalindan, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
  • The bill’s sponsors insisted their motives were not racist, although, one of the sponsors, state Sen. Scott Beason, later recorded himself referring to black people as aborigines while wearing a wire for the FBI.
    Kyle Whitmire, al, 22 Nov. 2019
Noun
  • Those clauses were removed in the 1960s, leaving no mention of aboriginals at all.
    The Economist, The Economist, 5 July 2018
  • These people are too far away to show a direct link between them and the Clovis in such a way that indicates the Clovis being the aboriginals of South America.
    Adam Rutherford, The Atlantic, 3 Oct. 2017
Noun
  • The Ohio native wouldn’t be the first person in his household to enter show business.
    Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 2 May 2026
  • Guangzhou native Chen Huiyi, 32, runs an English-language channel on Chinese social media platform Xiaohongshu, recommending the best places for tourists to visit in her hometown.
    Chris Lau, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Cite this Entry

“Autochthon.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autochthon. Accessed 2 May. 2026.

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