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

Apache Junction requires you to remove the temporary lighting within 30 days of the holiday. —Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 28 Nov. 2025

White Mountain Trails wrap around numerous lakes and aren’t too far from the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forest. —Emilee Coblentz, Outside, 24 Nov. 2025

Apache, the drone killer Moving forward, given the Apache’s clear relevance on the modern battlefield, the Army now plans to make changes to Apache training manuals accordingly. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 23 Nov. 2025

Veneno, a member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, was convicted of domestic assault on another member of the tribe. —Jenna Sundel, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Nov. 2025

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