Indian

Initially the term Indian was applied to the earliest inhabitants of the American continents because Columbus and other early European explorers, having arrived on North America's eastern coast, believed they had reached India by a new route. As a name thus applied in error by conquerors, Indian may well be regarded as insensitive or even offensive. Some of the people in question prefer to be called American Indian(s), but others prefer the term Native American(s), this last choice being the one least likely to cause offense. The use of Indian to mean "somebody from India" is perfectly acceptable.