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American Indian

A member of some indigenous peoples of the Americas, especially the continental United States, but excluding the Inuit, Yupik, and Aleuts.

əˈmɛɹəkən ˈɪndiənDocumented since 1700sSilenthistoricalCurrent143 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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3 definitions
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3 citations · last seen May 2026

Etymology timeline

Born ~1702 · 1 year of recorded use
1702Born2026: 3 citationsToday, 2026

Seen in the wild

Definitions

#1·Apr 27, 2026

A member of some indigenous peoples of the Americas, especially the continental United States, but excluding the Inuit, Yupik, and Aleuts.

Origin: American + Indian. The noun is attested since 1702, the adjective since shortly thereafter. Origin information sourced from Wiktionary contributors (CC BY-SA 4.0).
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#2·Apr 27, 2026

Relating to the indigenous peoples of the Americas or their languages.

For parents

"American Indian" means: Relating to the indigenous peoples of the Americas or their languages.. This is a fairly neutral word with no inherent risk attached. There is no real cause for parental concern; it is descriptive vocabulary rather than something dangerous. If your child uses it, context will usually make the meaning clear. A brief, curious question about where they heard it is generally enough to know whether to follow up.

For ESL learners

"American Indian" means: Relating to the indigenous peoples of the Americas or their languages.. Register: neutral, standard English, usable in most everyday contexts. Note the regional or dialect label (American) — usage may sound odd outside that variety. A common non-native mistake is to use the word in the wrong register, or to assume one fixed meaning when it is actually polysemous; always check the surrounding register and the audience before producing it yourself. In formal writing, prefer a neutral synonym or a short descriptive phrase, and use this word only when you have heard or read it being used naturally in a comparable context.

Heard in the wild
  • “Had fun at the National Museum of the American Indian. Learned a lot. Headed home ❤️ #Smithsonian #DMV”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
  • “Probably the greatest American Indian ballplayer of all time. Him or Allie Reynolds.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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#3·Apr 27, 2026

(Canada) An indigenous person from the United States.

Heard in the wild
  • “the American Indian .. immigrated to this land just like everyone else, BUT they ran into established settlements that had been here for 100's of years from Central and South America.”

    — Bluesky· May 2026
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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

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