l’autochtone
indigenous
Definition & meaning
The term autochtone refers to something or someone that is native to a specific region or country. It describes an individual or a population that has originated in or has lived in a place since the earliest times, as opposed to settlers or immigrants who arrived from elsewhere.
In a broader sense, it can also refer to plants or animals that are indigenous to a particular environment.
Grammar & Word origin
Grammatically, autochtone is an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun (e.g., un autochtone). It is gender-neutral in its singular form (both masculine and feminine take the same spelling), though it becomes autochtones in the plural.
The word originates from the Ancient Greek autokhthōn, composed of autos (self) and khthōn (earth, soil). Therefore, the literal etymological meaning is "sprung from the earth itself."
Synonyms & antonyms
Synonyms
Antonyms
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Examples
Un peuple autochtone vit dans cette région.adjective
An indigenous people lives in this region.
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