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Definition of miami

miami

/maɪˈæmi/
Mi · am · i

Plural:Miamis
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miami Lexical Profile

• noun

1

American A major coastal metropolis located in southeastern Florida in the United States, renowned for its beaches, vibrant nightlife, port, and significant Latin American cultural influence.


2

North American A member of a Native American people originally living in the Great Lakes region of the United States, particularly in present-day Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.

Example

"The Miami have a rich cultural history deeply tied to the Wabash River valley."


3

North American The Algonquian language traditionally spoken by the Miami and Illinois peoples.

Example

"Linguists and tribal members have worked together extensively to revitalize the Miami language."

Word Nuance & Usage

As a proper noun, it is always capitalized. Note that the Florida city and the Midwestern Native American tribe share the exact same modern English spelling but derive from entirely different indigenous linguistic roots.

• Rhymes for miami

Word Origin & Etymology

The city in Florida is named after the Mayaimi, a historic Native American people who lived around Lake Okeechobee (meaning 'big water'). The Midwestern Native American tribe's name derives from the Algonquian word 'Myaamia', meaning 'allies' or 'downstream people'.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


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