First Known Use: 1759
Dictionary
1endemic
adjective en·dem·ic \en-ˈde-mik, in-\
: growing or existing in a certain place or region
: common in a particular area or field
Full Definition of ENDEMIC
1
2
: restricted or peculiar to a locality or region <endemic diseases> <an endemic species>
— en·dem·i·cal·ly \-ˈde-mi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
— en·de·mic·i·ty \ˌen-ˌde-ˈmi-sə-tē, -də-ˈmi-\ noun
— en·de·mism \ˈen-də-ˌmi-zəm\ noun
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Examples of ENDEMIC
- Divorce has become so endemic in our society that a whole lore has risen up around it: that divorce is a temporary crisis; that so many children have experienced their parents' divorce that children nowadays do not worry much about it; that in fact it makes things easier, and it is itself a mere rite of passage; that if the parents feel better, so will the children. —Elisabeth Lasch-Quinn, New Republic, 6 May 2002
- The rap performers I enjoy are those who emphasize production values, songcraft and that quality of playfulness endemic to all good pop. —Francis Davis, Atlantic, October 1993
- Situated only 250 miles off the coast of Africa, Madagascar is biologically unique. Not only does it have a rich animal and plant life, it also houses a huge number of endemic species found nowhere else on earth. —Jim Milliot et al., Publishers Weekly, 15 May 2000
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Origin of ENDEMIC
French endémique, from endémie endemic disease, from Greek endēmia action of dwelling, from endēmos endemic, from en in + dēmos people, populace — more at demagogue
Related to ENDEMIC
- Synonyms
- aboriginal, autochthonous, born, domestic, native, indigenous
- Antonyms
- nonindigenous, nonnative
Synonym Discussion of ENDEMIC
native, indigenous, endemic, aboriginal mean belonging to a locality. native implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it <native tribal customs>. indigenous applies to species or races and adds to native the implication of not having been introduced from elsewhere <maize is indigenous to America>. endemic implies being peculiar to a region <edelweiss is endemic in the Alps>. aboriginal implies having no known race preceding in occupancy of the region <the aboriginal peoples of Australia>.
Other Anthropology Terms
2endemic
noun en·dem·ic \en-ˈde-mik, in-\
Definition of ENDEMIC
: an organism that is restricted or peculiar to a locality or region : an endemic organism
Origin of ENDEMIC
(see 1endemic)
First Known Use: 1926
Other Biology Terms
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