Native American

noun

: a member of any of the indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere

especially : a Native American of North America and especially the U.S. compare american indian

Native American adjective

Examples of Native American in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Senate Majority Leader John Thune, a South Dakota Republican, faced criticism from some conservatives over a social media post commemorating Native American Day instead of Columbus Day—but his state was the first to end recognition of Columbus Day. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Oct. 2025

In Arizona, almost half of the water flowing through the Central Arizona Project canal goes to Native American Tribes, meaning that Phoenix and its suburbs are going to face the lion’s share of the state’s cuts. —The Denver Post Editorial Board, Denver Post, 13 Oct. 2025

Mills, who is Native American and has a substantial Indigenous artifacts collection in his home, had recently been gifted an eagle bone whistle, Sparks says. —Clare Mulroy, USA Today, 12 Oct. 2025

In 2016, the campus hosted a Native American and Indigenous People’s Day Symposium that has become a fixture. —Hollace Ava Weiner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1628, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

Native American

noun

: a member of any of the Indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere

especially : a Native American of North America and especially the U.S. compare american indian

Native American adjective