Search Dictionary
Definition of peoria

peoria

/piːˈɔːriə/
Pe · o · ri · a

Plural:Peorias
JUMP TO:

peoria Lexical Profile

• noun

1

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.


2

American A major suburban city in Maricopa and Yavapai counties in central Arizona, United States, located northwest of Phoenix.


3

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.

Example

"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

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.

180019102020

Cite this Entry


Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Peoria. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/peoria
Built for writers, students, and competitive word game players, Wordmom combines an uncluttered English dictionary and thesaurus with fast, pattern-based word finders so you can verify definitions, synonyms, and high-scoring tile plays in one place.
Dictionary & Reference
© 2016–2026 Wordmom Network. All rights reserved. Made with for word lovers everywhere.
Disclaimer: SCRABBLE® is a registered trademark. All intellectual property rights in and to the game are owned in the U.S.A. and Canada by Hasbro Inc., and throughout the rest of the world by J.W. Spear & Sons Limited of Maidenhead, Berkshire, England, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc. Mattel and Spear are not affiliated with Hasbro. Words With Friends® is a registered trademark of Zynga Inc. Wordle® is a registered trademark of The New York Times Company. Other referenced game titles and tournament lexicon codes (including NASPA NWL and WESPA/HarperCollins CSW) are trademarks of their respective owners. Wordmom is an independent reference utility for educational and entertainment purposes and is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Hasbro, Mattel, Spear, Zynga, The New York Times Company, NASPA, WESPA, or HarperCollins Publishers. All game names are referenced strictly under nominative fair use to indicate compatibility.