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Definition of cherokees

cherokees

/ˈtʃɛr.əˌkiːz/
Cher · o · kees
Plural:Cherokees
•
Adjective:Cherokee
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cherokees Lexical Profile

• noun

1

Members of an Indigenous Iroquoian-speaking people originally inhabiting the southeastern woodlands of the United States, many of whose descendants now reside in Oklahoma and North Carolina.

Example

"Historians have extensively documented how the Cherokees developed a written syllabary and established a constitutional government in the early nineteenth century."

Word Nuance & Usage

Both 'Cherokee' and 'Cherokees' are standard plural forms used to refer to members of the Cherokee people.

• Nearby Words

cherie
cherimoya
cherish
cherokees
cherry
cherry blossom
cherry blossoms

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Cherokee word 'Tsalagi' (or 'Tsalagi' via the Lower Cherokee dialect 'Jaragi'), likely adapted into English through French or Spanish colonial accounts in the 18th century.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Cherokees. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/cherokees
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