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 Harrah’s Cherokee Casino is west of Asheville, near Maggie Valley about three hours west of Charlotte. Joe Marusak, Charlotte Observer, 8 Mar. 2024 After splitting a pair with Kent Denver this season, do the Mustangs have another upset in them? Thursday at Denver Coliseum No. 1 Cherokee Trail (24-2) vs. No. 4 Valor Christian (21-4), 5:45 p.m. Matt Schubert, The Denver Post, 6 Mar. 2024 On the North Carolina side of the park, check out lodging in Bryson City, Cherokee, Fontana, Graham County, Haywood County, Maggie Valley, or Waynesville. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 According to a statement shared by the Cherokee County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook Sunday, the police and the Cherokee County Emergency Services responded to a house in Murphy on Saturday morning after receiving a 911 call from the twins’ father. Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 4 Mar. 2024 Bieri said the Shawnee and Cherokee are most closely associated with New River Gorge, but numerous Native tribes are historically tied to it. Eve Chen, USA TODAY, 2 Mar. 2024 The recall notice applies to 2021-2023 models of the Jeep Grand Cherokee L and 2022-2023 models of the Jeep Grand Cherokee. Julian Mark, Washington Post, 29 Feb. 2024 With the exhaust wide open, all of a sudden the Cherokee transforms into an entirely different beast. Michael Van Runkle, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 Of the 203 vehicles the group known as IIHS tested so far this year, only two Detroit brands made the top safety picks list: The Ford Explorer midsize SUV won a Top Safety Pick+ and the Jeep Grand Cherokee and Grand Cherokee L midsize SUVs won a Top Safety Pick in their vehicle classes. Jamie L. Lareau, Detroit Free Press, 27 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Cherokee.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Dictionary Entries Near Cherokee

Cite this Entry

“Cherokee.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cherokee. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

Cherokee

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

More from Merriam-Webster on Cherokee

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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