Arawak

noun

Ar·​a·​wak ˈa-rə-ˌwäk How to pronounce Arawak (audio)
-ˌwak,
ˈer-ə-
plural Arawak or Arawaks
1
: a member of an Indian people of the Arawakan group now living chiefly along the coast of Guyana
2
: the language of the Arawak people

Examples of Arawak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Indigenous Arawak people used their shells as ceremonial objects, musical instruments and tools, and European settlers used them in construction and for communication between ships. Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 19 Sep. 2024 Here are some notable events to have occurred on Feb. 29. 1504 – Christopher Columbus predicted eclipse Explorer Christopher Columbus and his crew were stranded in Jamaica and relying on assistance from the native Arawak tribe. Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 27 Feb. 2024 Her goal is to boost Taíno culture by reviving the Arawak language, preserving cultural sites and establishing preserves for indigenous people. Robert M. Poole, Smithsonian Magazine, 5 Oct. 2011

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

earlier Arwaca, Aroaca, an Arawak subgroup of 16th century Trinidad, perhaps from an Arawak name for the subgroup

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Arawak was in 1769

Dictionary Entries Near Arawak

Cite this Entry

“Arawak.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Arawak. Accessed 7 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

Arawak

noun
Ar·​a·​wak ˈar-ə-ˌwäk How to pronounce Arawak (audio)
plural Arawak or Arawaks
: a member of an Indigenous people chiefly of Guyana

More from Merriam-Webster on Arawak

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!