endemic

adjective

en-ˈde-mik How to pronounce endemic (audio)
Definition of endemicnext
as in indigenous
belonging to a particular place by birth or origin the fish is not an endemic species of the lake, and it is rapidly devouring the native trout population

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How is the word endemic distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of endemic are aboriginal, indigenous, and native. While all these words mean "belonging to a locality," endemic implies being peculiar to a region.

a disease endemic in Africa

When might aboriginal be a better fit than endemic?

The words aboriginal and endemic are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, aboriginal implies having no known others preceding in occupancy of a particular region.

the aboriginal peoples of Australia

When would indigenous be a good substitute for endemic?

While in some cases nearly identical to endemic, indigenous applies to that which is not only native but which, as far as can be determined, has never been introduced or brought from elsewhere.

indigenous plants

When is it sensible to use native instead of endemic?

In some situations, the words native and endemic are roughly equivalent. However, native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it.

native tribal customs

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of endemic The Grauer’s gorilla, also known as the eastern lowland gorilla, is endemic to the tropical forests in the eastern part of the Democratic Republic of Congo. — Elodie Toto, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026 The best crime thrillers consider the way violence, an endemic feature of human societies, can spiral out of hand. — David Faris, TheWeek, 16 Oct. 2026 Over the past year, Flexport has rolled out its Customs Technology Suite, which harnesses AI to classify shipment codes, determine tariff rates, and reduce overpayments that are endemic in the shipping industry. — Jay Bouchard, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 Go fishing in Seychelles, explore Zanzibar’s history, encounter Madagascar’s endemic species, or unwind at a Mauritius resort. — Cherri Briggs, Travel + Leisure, 13 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for endemic
Recent Examples of Synonyms for endemic
  1. indigenous
  2. aboriginal
Adjective
  • The fabulously wealthy young naturalist and botanist Joseph Banks shared Rousseau’s interest in indigenous societies – and was willing to spend a fortune to study them.
    — Saar Shahar, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026
  • South Korea’s successful test launch of its first hypersonic glide vehicle marks a notable step forward in the country’s pursuit of advanced indigenous military technology.
    — Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of indigenous
Adjective
  • The injuries themselves aren’t too surprising; wild dingoes hunt kangaroos, and Aboriginal hunters worked with dingoes the same way people in other parts of the world have hunted with dogs for millennia.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 18 May 2026
  • Australian aboriginal peoples, meanwhile, saw a great boomerang in the stellar formation, while the Native American Shawnee tribe envisioned dancing star maidens.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 9 May 2026
Definition of aboriginal

Browse Nearby Words

ended
endemic
endgame
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Cite this Entry

“Endemic.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/endemic. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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