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

The Apache attack helicopter has been a core part of Army aviation since the first one was delivered in 1984. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Arizona has 1,174,000 acres of roadless areas, including parts of Prescott, Kaibab, Tonto, Coronado and Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests, according to the Environment Arizona Research and Policy Center. — Sarah Henry, AZCentral.com, 19 Aug. 2026

The lawsuit also includes the People of La Junta for Preservation, which is a group that preserves Indigenous places, and Christina Hernandez, a member of the Lipan Apache Tribe who believes the border plan violates her religious freedoms. — Ashley Killough, CNN Money, 17 Aug. 2026

On Friday, the Army announced a temporary stand-down of AH64 Apache training flight operations. — Minyvonne Burke, NBC news, 14 Aug. 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