1. the original inhabitants of a region or country, especially before the arrival of colonizers
Usage: plural form
2. the indigenous peoples of Australia
Usage: capitalized when referring specifically to Australian Aboriginal peoples; sometimes considered outdated; ‘Aboriginal peoples’ or ‘First Nations’ preferred

Examples

• The aborigines of North America had complex societies before European contact.
• Archaeologists study the tools and artifacts left by the region’s aborigines.
• The museum features exhibits about the culture of Australia’s aborigines.
• Many aborigines maintained their traditional ways of life for thousands of years.
• The government established programs to support the rights of aborigines.
• Anthropologists work with aborigines to preserve their oral histories.