Definition of cliff dweller
1
often capitalized C&D
a
: a member of a prehistoric American Indian people of the southwestern U.S. who built their homes on rock ledges or in the natural recesses of canyon walls and cliffs
b
: a member of any cliff-dwelling people
2
: a resident of a large usually metropolitan apartment building
Learn More About cliff dweller
Statistics for cliff dweller
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Cliff dweller.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cliff%20dweller. Accessed 30 Jun. 2022.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
Odd Habits and Quirks
-
- Which of the following best describes an easily irritated person?
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
A daily challenge for crossword fanatics.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Word Games
-
Commonly Confused Words Quiz
Take a (break/brake) and (pore/pour) over this (c...
Take the quiz
-
Words Named After People
Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
Take the quiz
-
Name That Thing
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question ...
Take the quiz
-
Spelling Bee Quiz
Can you outdo past winners of the National Spelli...
Take the quiz
Share cliff dweller
Time Traveler for cliff dweller
The first known use of cliff dweller was in 1875
See more words from the same year