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Native American
noun
: a member of any of the indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere
especially
: a Native American of North America and especially the U.S. compare american indian
Native American
adjective
Examples of Native American in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Haaland, who served in the Biden administration, was the first Native American to lead a Cabinet agency.
—
Ivana Saric, Axios, 11 Feb. 2025
Guests were treated to a variety of multicultural breakfast items, prayer readings from Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Native American, Muslim and Hindu guests, and a performance by the Prior Lake High School Choir.
—
Jacqueline Devine, Twin Cities, 6 Feb. 2025
Her win at the 96th Oscars proved an upset for Oscars fans who had hoped Lily Gladstone would make history as the first Native American to win the Best Actress Oscar.
—
Kalia Richardson, Rolling Stone, 5 Feb. 2025
The Lumbee Tribe, which traces its ancestry back hundreds of years to survivors of other tribal nations, is recognized as Native American by the state of North Carolina but has been denied recognition by the federal government.
—
Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 24 Jan. 2025
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1628, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of Native American was
circa 1628
Articles Related to Native American
Dictionary Entries Near Native American
Cite this Entry
“Native American.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Native%20American. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
Native American
noun
: a member of any of the Indigenous peoples of the western hemisphere
especially
: a Native American of North America and especially the U.S. compare american indian
Native American
adjective
More from Merriam-Webster on Native American
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Native American
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