Origin: Latin suffix -ous
Indigenous has 3 different meanings across 1 category:
originating where it is found
"the autochthonal fauna of Australia includes the kangaroo"
"autochthonous rocks and people and folktales"
"endemic folkways"
"the Ainu are indigenous to the northernmost islands of Japan"
Born or originating in, native to a land or region, especially before an intrusion.
"The indigenous people have lived in this valley for thousands of years."
Alternative letter-case form of indigenous (“native, relating to the native inhabitants of a land”)
In plain English: Indigenous means something that is native to a specific place and has lived there since before people from other areas arrived.
"The Maori people are indigenous to New Zealand and have lived there for thousands of years."
Usage: Use indigenous when referring to plants, animals, or cultures that originated naturally in a specific place rather than being introduced by humans. This term is often confused with "native," but it specifically emphasizes the pre-colonial presence of these groups within their land.
The word indigenous comes from Late Latin indigenus, meaning "native" or "born in a country." It combines elements related to being "in" with a root for "to give birth," eventually entering English through the suffix -ous.