peoria
peoria Lexical Profile
• noun
American A major city in central Illinois, United States, situated along the Illinois River, historically serving as a representative test market for mainstream American culture.
"The advertising agency decided to test their new commercial in Peoria before launching a nationwide campaign."
American A major suburban city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in central Arizona, United States, located northwest of Phoenix.
"After retiring, they moved to a quiet neighborhood in Peoria, Arizona, to enjoy the warm desert climate."
North American A Native American tribe historically part of the Illiniwek Confederacy in the Midwestern United States, now primarily federally recognized and relocated to Oklahoma.
"Historians studied the agricultural practices and seasonal migrations of the Peoria before European contact."
Word Nuance & Usage
The city in Illinois is famous for the American idiom 'Will it play in Peoria?', historically used by politicians, advertisers, and entertainers to ask whether a product or idea will appeal to mainstream, average American demographics.
• Rhymes for peoria
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Named after the Peoria Native American tribe. The tribal name is derived from their autonym 'peewaareewa' in the Algonquian Miami-Illinois language, which translates to 'comes carrying a pack on his back.'
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.