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
Giovanna Caruso is the fourth generation of Caruso& Minini, a winery appreciated for its wines made both with autochthonous grapes (such as Grillo, Zibibbo, Perricone, Frappato, Nero d’Avola) and international varieties (such as Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, and Merlot).
—
Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
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
Alternatively, maybe the idea of coffee wasn't really autochthonous.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2013
Elisabetta Tosi, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025
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
Alternatively, maybe the idea of coffee wasn't really autochthonous.
—Neuroskeptic, Discover Magazine, 22 Nov. 2013
Recent Examples of Synonyms for autochthonous
Adjective
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These conditions have fueled widespread reports of labor exploitation, environmental damage and violent disputes over territory, while mercury contamination from gold extraction has posed serious risks to indigenous communities and fragile ecosystems.—
Antonio María Delgado,
Miami Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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The most magnificent of our indigenous maples is bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum), which can grow to 100 feet or more where cultural conditions are optimal.—
Joshua Siskin,
Oc Register,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In 1967 the Australian constitution was amended to give the commonwealth the power to make laws concerning Aboriginal peoples instead of the states.—
Roland Martin,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
19 Mar. 2026
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Though Aboriginal peoples are widely accepted as being in Australia for at least 50,000 years, one archaeological site in the country is said to be 65,000 years old.—
Jennifer Jett,
NBC news,
22 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Autochthonous.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/autochthonous. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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