Arikara

noun

Arik·​a·​ra ə-ˈri-kə-rə How to pronounce Arikara (audio)
1
plural Arikara : a member of an Indigenous people of the Missouri River valley in North Dakota

Note: The Arikara are federally recognized as part of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation in North Dakota.

2
: the language of the Arikara

Examples of Arikara in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation in North Dakota, known as the MHA Nation, is wealthy from oil and gas revenue and has its own inpatient and sober living facilities. Ben Tanen, Washington Post, 8 Feb. 2024 For Alejandro González Iñárritu’s 2015 award-winning film The Revenant, the Mexican director also hired cultural consultants and teamed up with linguists to incorporate authentic Arikara and Pawnee language. Sandra Hale Schulman, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Oct. 2023 The Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nation, also known as the Three Affiliated Tribes, manage this population through their fish and wildlife division. Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 8 June 2023

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

probably from a Pawnee name for an Arikara band

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Arikara was in 1811

Dictionary Entries Near Arikara

Cite this Entry

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

More from Merriam-Webster on Arikara

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!