An aborigine is simply a member of the original or earliest known inhabitants of a region, that is, one of the people who are already established in a region when the first migrant or explorer from somewhere else arrives. As a noun, aborigine is now used primarily of the indigenous peoples of Australia and in that context (though in no others) it is generally capitalized. When referring to other native peoples, such as American Indians or the early Celts of Britain, you may wish to use a phrase such as aboriginal inhabitants or indigenous peoples instead of aborigines. While there is nothing offensive in the notion of prior habitation—indeed, it is a point of considerable pride among most native peoples—the lowercase noun aborigine may well evoke an unwelcome stereotype.
