Nez Percé

noun

ˈnez-ˈpərs 

ˈnes-ˈpers,

 nonstandard  ˈnā-per-ˈsā

variants or Nez Perce

1

plural Nez Percé or Nez Percés ˈnez-ˈpərs 

ˈnes-ˈpers,

 nonstandard  ˈnā-per-ˈsā,

or

ˈnez-ˈpər-səz 

ˈnes-ˈper-səz;

 nonstandard  ˈnā-per-ˈsā(z)

or Nez Perce or Nez Perces ˈnez-ˈpərs 

ˈnes-ˈpers,

 nonstandard  ˈnā-per-ˈsā,

or

ˈnez-ˈpər-səz 

ˈnes-ˈper-səz;

 nonstandard  ˈnā-per-ˈsā(z)

: a member of an Indigenous people originally of Idaho, Washington, and Oregon

Note: Current-day members of the tribe live on the Nez Percé Reservation in Idaho.

2

: the language of the Nez Percé people

Examples of Nez Percé in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For decades, the Nez Perce Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation have been working to return salmon to Lookingglass Creek and other habitats in the area, looking to restore historic cycles of animal life and human tradition. —Bill Chappell, NPR, 4 Apr. 2024

The driver managed to escape the accident with minor injuries, and cleanup efforts were aided by members of a local hatchery, Nez Perce tribe members and the Union County Sheriff's Office, the ODFW said. —Noah Osborne, NBC News, 4 Apr. 2024

Police said they are now linked to two North Idaho homicides — one in Nez Perce County and another in Clearwater County — that happened in that window. —Sally Krutzig, Idaho Statesman, 28 Mar. 2024

The homicides took place in Nez Perce County and Clearwater County, police said. —Frances Vinall, Washington Post, 22 Mar. 2024

Idaho State Police are investigating two homicides in separate locations — one in Nez Perce County and one in Clearwater County — that may be linked to the escape and manhunt, Lt. Col. Sheldon Kelley said. —Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 22 Mar. 2024

The homicide victims, both men, were discovered in separate counties — one in Nez Perce and one in Clearwater, the city of Boise disclosed in a press release Thursday afternoon. —S. Dev, CBS News, 21 Mar. 2024

Her father, who is of Piegan Blackfeet and Nez Perce heritage, is descended from Red Crow, a Kainai Nation chief. —Kelsie Gibson, Peoplemag, 26 Feb. 2024

With her Blackfeet and Nez Perce heritage, Gladstone became the first Native American to be nominated for a leading actor award in the Academy’s 96-year history. —Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 26 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, literally, pierced nose

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Nez Percé

noun

variants or Nez Perce

ˈnez-ˈpərs  ˈnes-ˈpe(ə)rs 

 French  nā-per-sā

plural Nez Percé or Nez Percés or Nez Perce or Nez Perces

: a member of an American Indian people of central Idaho and neighboring parts of Washington and Oregon

Etymology

French, literally "pierced nose"