Navajo

noun

Na·​va·​jo ˈna-və-ˌhō How to pronounce Navajo (audio) ˈnä- How to pronounce Navajo (audio)
variants or less commonly Navaho
1
plural Navajo or Navajos also Navaho or Navahos : a member of an Indigenous people of northern New Mexico and Arizona and southern Utah
2
: the language of the Navajo people

Examples of Navajo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Navajo Nation is the lone exception in Arizona. Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 7 Mar. 2024 The Navajo Nation which is the northeast corner of the state does continue to participate in daylight saving. Amy Huschka, Detroit Free Press, 6 Mar. 2024 Hawaii and Arizona don’t observe daylight time (although the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona does), nor do the U.S. territories of Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Northern Mariana Islands. Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 6 Mar. 2024 Communities economically reliant on the Cholla Power Plant, located between Winslow and Holbrook just south of the Navajo Nation, will not receive utility ratepayer funds to jumpstart their economic transition as the plant's closure looms. Alexis Waiss, The Arizona Republic, 6 Mar. 2024 What states do not observe daylight saving time? Hawaii and Arizona (with the exception of the Navajo Nation) do not participate in daylight saving time. Amaris Encinas, USA TODAY, 6 Mar. 2024 Additional houses that have recently been sold close by include: On Navajo Place, Danville, in August 2023, a 1,651-square-foot home was sold for $1,670,000, a price per square foot of $1,012. Bay Area Home Report, The Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2024 Each room features traditional adobe architecture of the American Southwest, including pine beam viga ceilings, kiva-style gas fireplace, antique Navajo rugs, local pueblo pottery, colorful handwoven textiles, and organic toiletries. Lauren Mowery, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Efforts are underway to better support veterans on the Navajo Nation. Anna Mulrine Grobe, The Christian Science Monitor, 28 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Navajo.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Spanish (Apache de) Navajó, literally, Apache of Navajó, from Navajó, area occupied by Navajos, probably from Tewa (Pueblo Indian language of northern New Mexico) navahu·, literally, arroyo with planted fields

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Navajo was in 1808

Dictionary Entries Near Navajo

Cite this Entry

“Navajo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Navajo. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Navajo

noun
Na·​va·​jo
variants also Navaho
plural Navajo or Navajos also Navaho or Navahos
: a member of an American Indian people of northern New Mexico and Arizona

More from Merriam-Webster on Navajo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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