Kiowa

noun

Ki·​o·​wa ˈkī-ə-ˌwȯ  -ˌwä  -ˌwā 

1

plural Kiowa or Kiowas : a member of an Indigenous people of the southern Great Plains

Note: Modern-day members live as the federally recognized Kiowa Indian Tribe of Oklahoma.

2

: the language of the Kiowa people

Examples of Kiowa in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The singing was followed by Gourd Dancing, a men’s dance that originates from the Kiowa tribe and starts out soft and slow but picks up in rhythm and beat over an hour. —Jennifer Van Grove, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 May 2025

Measles cases have been reported in eight Kansas Counties: Finney, Ford, Grant, Gray, Haskell, Kiowa, Morton and Stevens counties. —Robert A. Cronkleton, Kansas City Star, 8 May 2025

The Native Lab is overseen by Adam Piron (Kiowa and Mohawk), Director of the Institute’s Indigenous Program, alongside Senior Manager Ianeta Le’i. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2025

The Native Lab is overseen by Adam Piron (Kiowa and Mohawk), Director of the Institute’s Indigenous Program, alongside Ianeta Le’i, the program’s Senior Manager. —Samantha Bergeson, IndieWire, 28 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

ultimately from Kiowa kɔ́ygú, a self-designation

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Kiowa

noun

Ki·​o·​wa ˈkī-ə-ˌwȯ  -ˌwä 

plural Kiowa or Kiowas

: a member of an Indigenous people of what are now Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas