Definition

Noun: A member of an indigenous, traditionally nomadic people inhabiting the northern regions of Scandinavia (Norway, Sweden, Finland, and the Kola Peninsula of Russia), whose culture has historically been closely associated with reindeer herding.

Usage Notes

• The term "Lapplander" is considered dated and can be perceived as offensive by the people it describes. The preferred and respectful terms are Sámi (the people's own name for themselves) or Saami.
• It functions as a countable noun (e.g., , ).
• It specifically refers to a person belonging to this ethnic group, not to the language or culture in an abstract sense.

Examples

• The anthropologist lived with a community of Lapplanders to study their traditional way of life.
• Historically, a Lapplander's wealth and livelihood were measured by the size of his reindeer herd.
• Some older geographical texts refer to the region of Sapmi as "Lapland" and its inhabitants as Lapplanders.

Advanced Usage

• The term is primarily found in historical texts, older anthropological works, or in a pejorative context. Its use in modern, respectful discourse is strongly discouraged.

Variants and Related Words

• Sámi (n., adj.): The modern, preferred endonym for the people and their language. (e.g., , ).
• Saami (n., adj.): An alternative spelling of .
• Lapp (n., adj.): An even more dated and often pejorative term than "Lapplander." Its use is generally avoided.
• Reindeer herder (n.): A descriptive term for one engaged in the occupation, which is common but not exclusive to the Sámi people.

Synonyms

• Sámi
• Saami

Notes on Related Terms

• Lapland: A geographical region in northern Scandinavia, named after the Sámi people. Like "Lapplander," this term is also becoming less common in favor of Sápmi, the Sámi name for their traditional homeland.
• Reindeer herding: The traditional livelihood strongly associated with many, but not all, Sámi communities.

Noun

1. a member of an indigenous nomadic people living in northern Scandinavia and herding reindeer