indigens

Indigens is a term that appears in some English-language writings as a plural noun or, less commonly, as an adjective to denote populations that are native to a place. It is not widely standardized in major dictionaries, and its precise sense varies between authors and disciplines. In general, indigens is used to refer to people who originated in a region before significant external settlement or cultural change; however, many writers prefer the more common terms indigenous peoples, indigenous communities, or indigene.

Etymology: The word is derived from Latin indigena, meaning native or sprung from the land, combined with the English plural suffix -s to form indigens. Its use remains uncommon and is not uniformly defined across sources.

Usage notes: Because of its limited usage, readers should look for a definition at first use. Indigens can appear in historical, anthropological, or legal-historical texts, particularly when a writer aims to contrast a native population with later migrants or colonial powers. In contemporary discourse, the term indigenous peoples is generally clearer and more widely understood.

Distinctions: Indigens should not be confused with indigents, which refers to impoverished people. It is also distinct from more established terms like indigenous, indigene, or indigenous peoples, which carry more standardized meanings in most modern contexts. When precision is required, authors typically choose the widely recognized terminology to avoid ambiguity.

See also: Indigenous peoples, Indigeneity, Native peoples, Colonialism.