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Definition of desoto

desoto

/dəˈsoʊtoʊ/
de · so · to
Plural:DeSotos
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desoto Lexical Profile

• noun

1

The 16th-century Spanish explorer and conquistador Hernando de Soto, who led the first documented European expedition into the territory of the modern-day United States.

Example

"The expedition of de Soto significantly impacted the indigenous populations of the southeastern United States."

2

American A discontinued American automobile marque manufactured and marketed by the Chrysler Corporation from 1928 to 1961.

Example

"My grandfather proudly restored a classic 1955 DeSoto Fireflite to its original condition."

3

American A city located in Dallas County, Texas, United States, known as part of the Best Southwest suburban area.

Word Nuance & Usage

Typically capitalized as 'DeSoto' when referring to the American automobile brand or specific US cities, and 'de Soto' when referring to the historical Spanish explorer.

• Rhymes for desoto

• Nearby Words

desolate
desolately
desolation
desoto
desoto falls
despair
despairing

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Spanish surname 'de Soto', literally meaning 'of the thicket' or 'of the grove'. The American automobile brand and numerous US locations were named in honor of the 16th-century Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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