indigenousness
|in-di-ge-nous-ness|
🇺🇸
/ɪnˈdɪdʒənəsnəs/
🇬🇧
/ɪnˈdɪdʒɪnəsnəs/
the state of being native to a place
Etymology
'indigenousness' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'indigena,' where 'indi-' meant 'in, within' and '-gena' meant 'born.' The suffix '-ness' is added in English to form a noun indicating a state or quality.
'indigena' transformed into the English adjective 'indigenous' in the 17th century, and eventually the noun 'indigenousness' was formed by adding '-ness.'
Initially, it meant 'the state of being native or born in a place,' and this meaning has remained consistent in modern usage as 'the quality of being indigenous.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the quality or state of being indigenous; the characteristic of originating or occurring naturally in a particular place.
The indigenousness of the plant species is crucial for the local ecosystem.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/07/29 06:24