Inuit definition - Dictionary

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Inuit

In·u·it [ ínnoo it, ínnyoo it ] (plural In·u·it or In·u·its) or In·nu·it [ ínnoo it, ínnyoo it ] (plural In·nu·it or In·nu·its)

noun

Definition:

1. Arctic or Greenland people: a member of an aboriginal people who live in the coastal Canadian Arctic, in Alaska, and in Greenland. The Inuit are related to the Yupik of Alaska and northeastern Siberia.

2. language of Inuit: a language of the Inuit, forming one branch of Eskimo-Aleut. Native speakers: 60,000.
See also Inuktitut

[Mid-18th century. < Inuit, plural of inuk "person"]

In·u·it adjective

Word Usage


	The Inuit Circumpolar Conference, held in 1977 in Barrow, Alaska, chose officially to replace the term Eskimo with Inuit (which means "the real people"). Eskimo nonetheless remains in common use, appearing even in academic contexts. Because some may find Eskimo offensive, care should be exercised in using this word.