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

apache [French, from Apache "Apache"]

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

In particular, it's conceived as a way of keeping valuable attack helicopters like the AH-54 Apache and their crews away from the heat of combat while acting as force multipliers to make the helicopter much more effective. — David Szondy july 21, New Atlas, 21 July 2026

Aviation accidents also pose a risk to people on the ground, especially in formation maneuvers like those the Apache pilots were doing in South Carolina. — Brynn Tannehill, The Atlantic, 21 July 2026

The company estimates that pairing three Thunder aircraft with each AH-64 Apache would triple the brigade’s available munitions without adding more pilots to contested airspace. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 20 July 2026

The woman fixed me with her glare, an expression every Apache kid knows. — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026

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