Navajo

noun

Na·​va·​jo ˈna-və-ˌhō How to pronounce Navajo (audio) ˈnä- How to pronounce Navajo (audio)
variants or less commonly Navaho
1
plural Navajo or Navajos also Navaho or Navahos : a member of an Indigenous people of northern New Mexico and Arizona and southern Utah
2
: the language of the Navajo people

Examples of Navajo 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.
Because of its desert climate, Arizona doesn't follow daylight saving time (with the exception of the Navajo Nation). — Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025 It is located south of Farmington, New Mexico, on the Navajo Nation, covering approx. — Emese MacZko, Forbes, 25 Feb. 2025 The series is set in the ’70s and stars Zahn McClarnon as Navajo Tribal Police lieutenant Joe Leaphorn who works with officers Jim Chee (Kiowa Gordon) and Bernadette Manuelito (Jessica Matten) to solve the mysteries behind violent crimes on their reservation. — Selome Hailu, Variety, 24 Feb. 2025 The series, which also stars Kiowa Gordon, Jessica Matten and Deanna Allison, follows Lt. Joe Leaphorn (McClarnon), Jim Chee (Gordon) and Bernadette Manuelito (Matten) of the Navajo Tribal Police solving mysteries on their reservation as it is besieged by increasingly violent crimes in the 1970s. — Peter White, Deadline, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Navajo

Word History

Etymology

Spanish (Apache de) Navajó, literally, Apache of Navajó, from Navajó, area occupied by Navajos, probably from Tewa (Pueblo Indian language of northern New Mexico) navahu·, literally, arroyo with planted fields

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Navajo was in 1808

Rhymes for Navajo

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Navajo
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Cite this Entry

“Navajo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Navajo. Accessed 1 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

Navajo

noun
Na·​va·​jo
variants also Navaho
ˈnav-ə-ˌhō How to pronounce Navajo (audio) ˈnäv- How to pronounce Navajo (audio)
plural Navajo or Navajos also Navaho or Navahos
: a member of an Indigenous people of northern New Mexico and Arizona

More from Merriam-Webster on Navajo

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Navajo

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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