1
plural Ute or Utes : a member of an Indigenous people originally ranging through Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico

Note: Current-day members live as part of the federally recognized Ute Indian Tribe (Northern Ute) of the Uinta and Ouray Reservation of Northeastern Utah or the federally recognized Southern Ute Tribe of Colorado.

2
: the Uto-Aztecan language of the Ute people

Examples of Ute in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Navajo Ute First Phase blanket A man brought in a piece of history to Antiques Roadshow when the show stopped in Tucson, Ariz., in 2001. Madeline Boardman, EW.com, 22 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, Ute trust land (about 1.3 million acres) contains significant oil and gas deposits. Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 7 Feb. 2024 Few others have attempted to attach climbing gyms and food service; Ute & Yeti in Colorado Springs may be the only predecessor. Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 1 Feb. 2024 What the athletic directors are saying Ute has gotten feedback on expansion since he was hired in September 2020. Brendan Connelly, The Enquirer, 31 Jan. 2024 Last year saw Williamson hit the road for an extensive touring schedule, which included a spot on the Deni Ute Muster, and a performance with Morgan Evans onstage at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall. Lars Brandle, Billboard, 22 Jan. 2024 The Ute Mountain Ute Tribe passed a resolution banning the transportation of uranium ore through its lands, which include state highways. The Arizona Republic, 10 Jan. 2024 Guests can stay in the home that’s built right into the red rock cliff wall of Sleeping Ute Mountain. Sarah Yang, Sunset Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023 While on a family vacation with her husband and two young sons, Ute Heggen of Brooklyn, N.Y., discovered that her husband was leading a double life. Ashley McClure, National Review, 21 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Ute.' 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

short for earlier Utah, Utaw, from American Spanish Yuta

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Ute was in 1846

Dictionary Entries Near Ute

Cite this Entry

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

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