Cherokee

noun

Cher·​o·​kee ˈcher-ə-(ˌ)kē How to pronounce Cherokee (audio)
ˈche-rə-
1
plural Cherokee or Cherokees : a member of a nation of once-nomadic Indigenous peoples located originally in the Appalachian Mountains of Tennessee and North Carolina
2
: the Iroquoian language of the Cherokee people

Examples of Cherokee in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
McIntosh audio is available in the Jeep Grand Wagoneer, Grand Cherokee and Wagoneer S EV. Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 27 July 2025 The new rule allows individuals flying with Sport Pilot certification to now operate a broader range of bigger airplanes such as the Piper Cherokee and Cessna 182. Rick Barrett, jsonline.com, 24 July 2025 Though reborn into its German style in the late 1960s, Helen was originally the home of the Cherokee Native Americans before its time as a gold rush town, then logging town. Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 23 July 2025 Once upon a time, five historic homes made up Honeymoon Row on Lake Cherokee. Tiffani Sherman, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for Cherokee

Word History

Etymology

probably ultimately from Creek calá·kki

First Known Use

1721, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Cherokee was in 1721

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Cite this Entry

“Cherokee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cherokee. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

Cherokee

noun
Cher·​o·​kee ˈcher-ə-ˌkē How to pronounce Cherokee (audio)
: a member of an Indigenous people originally from Tennessee and North Carolina
also : their language

More from Merriam-Webster on Cherokee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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