Search Dictionary
Definition of watauga

watauga

/wəˈtɔːɡə/
Wa · tau · ga
JUMP TO:

watauga Lexical Profile

• noun

1

American A county located in the Appalachian Mountains of northwestern North Carolina, known for the town of Boone and Appalachian State University.

Example

"During the autumn months, Watauga County attracts thousands of visitors looking to photograph the vibrant fall foliage."

2

American A river in the southeastern United States that flows from the Blue Ridge Mountains of western North Carolina into eastern Tennessee.

3

American A historical, semi-autonomous frontier settlement established in 1772 in present-day eastern Tennessee, formally known as the Watauga Association.

Example

"Pioneers crossed the Appalachian Mountains to form the Watauga settlement, creating one of the earliest independent democratic governments in North America."

• Rhymes for watauga

• Nearby Words

wastewater
wasting
wastrel
watauga
watauga falls
watch
watchability

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from a Native American (likely Cherokee) word traditionally interpreted to mean 'beautiful river', 'whispering waters', or 'broken waters'. It was originally applied to a river in the Appalachian region of North Carolina and Tennessee.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Watauga. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/watauga
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.
Word Games & Solvers
Word FinderScrabble Word FinderWords With Friends CheatWordle SolverAnagram Solver
Dictionary & Reference
DictionarySynonymsAntonymsWords
Community
Contact UsEditorial PolicyPrivacy PolicyTerms and Conditions
© 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.