Apache

noun

ə-ˈpa-chē 

in sense 3

ə-ˈpash 

plural Apache or Apaches ə-ˈpa-chēz 

-ˈpash,

-ˈpa-shəz

1

: a member of a group of Indigenous peoples of the southwestern U.S.

2

: any of the Athabascan languages of the Apache people

3

not capitalized [French, from Apache Apache Indian]

a

: a member of a gang of criminals especially in Paris

b

: ruffian

Apachean

ə-ˈpa-chē-ən 

adjective or noun

Examples of Apache in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Within a year, Texas authorities pinned the crime on a closeted Apache man, James Harry Reyos, even though Reyos had an alibi for the night of the killing and wasn’t in Odessa or even in Texas at the time of Father Patrick Ryan’s slaying. —Matthew Carey, Deadline, 21 June 2025

Hunt served in the military from 2004 to 2012 and flew Apache helicopters. —Amalia Huot-Marchand, The Hill, 21 June 2025

Frigates will patrol the North Sea, F-35 fighter jets and Apache helicopters will take to the skies and air defense systems will be on alert. —Mike Corder, Los Angeles Times, 19 June 2025

Her body was found behind a home in Apache Junction, Arizona, on August 6. —Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, perhaps from Zuni ʔa·paču Navajo, Apachean

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Apache

• catchy
• patchy
• scratchy
• malachi

Kids Definition

Apache

noun

ə-ˈpach-ē 

plural Apache or Apaches

: a member of a group of Indigenous peoples of the southwestern U.S.

also : any of the languages of the Apache people