Kiowa

noun

Ki·​o·​wa ˈkī-ə-ˌwȯ  -ˌwä  -ˌwā 

1

plural Kiowa or Kiowas : a member of an Indigenous people of the southern Great Plains

Note: Modern-day members live as the federally recognized Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

2

: the language of the Kiowa people

Examples of Kiowa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Kearns returns as Alice Benally, Emma Leaphorn’s (Deanna Allison) mother, an elder who helps Emma prepare for Bernadette and Chee’s (Kiowa Gordon) traditional Navajo wedding. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 11 June 2026

Counties under the watch include Las Animas, Baca, Prowers, Bent, Otero, Crowley, Kiowa, Cheyenne, Kit Carson and Yuma. — Meg Wingerter, Denver Post, 9 June 2026

The warnings included parts of Baca, Crowley, Fremont, Huerfano, Kiowa and Otero counties . — Lauren Penington, Denver Post, 17 May 2026

He is joined on this journey by his new deputy, Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon). — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 5 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Kiowa kɔ́ygú, a self-designation

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Kiowa

noun

Ki·​o·​wa ˈkī-ə-ˌwȯ  -ˌwä 

plural Kiowa or Kiowas

: a member of an Indigenous people of what are now Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas