Definition

Noun 1. Amerindian race: A historical anthropological classification for the indigenous peoples of the Americas, traditionally categorized as a major subgroup within the broader, now largely discredited, concept of the "Mongoloid race."

Usage Notes

• This term is considered outdated and problematic in modern anthropological, scientific, and social contexts. It is based on obsolete racial typologies.
• Contemporary usage favors specific, respectful terms such as Native American, American Indian, First Nations, Indigenous peoples of the Americas, or the name of a specific nation or community (e.g., Navajo, Cherokee, Quechua).
• The term primarily appears in historical texts or discussions about the history of anthropological classification.

Examples

• In 19th-century anthropology, the Amerindian race was often described as a distinct branch.
• The outdated textbook classified human populations into three major groups, listing the Amerindian race under the Mongoloid category.

Advanced Usage

• The concept of an "Amerindian race" has been critically examined and rejected by modern genetics and anthropology, which emphasize the vast genetic, linguistic, and cultural diversity among Indigenous American populations.

Variants and Related Words

• Amerindian (adj., n.): An older term for relating to or denoting the indigenous peoples of the Americas.
• Native American (n., adj.): A widely used contemporary term in the United States.
• American Indian (n., adj.): A term still used in some official and legal contexts (e.g., the Bureau of Indian Affairs).
• Indigenous (adj.): Relating to the original inhabitants of a region.

Synonyms

• Indigenous peoples of the Americas
• Native Americans (context-specific)
• American Indians (context-specific)
• First Peoples

Important Note on Terminology

• There are no direct idioms or phrasal verbs for this specific noun phrase.
• It is crucial to understand that the term "Amerindian race" represents a historical construct rather than a valid biological or genetic reality. Modern scholarship recognizes the immense diversity and unique histories of the hundreds of distinct Indigenous nations and cultures across the Americas.

Noun

1. usually included in the Mongoloid race