Apache

noun

ə-ˈpa-chē How to pronounce Apache (audio)
in sense 3
ə-ˈpash How to pronounce Apache (audio)
plural Apache or Apaches ə-ˈpa-chēz How to pronounce Apache (audio)
-ˈpash, 
-ˈpa-shəz
1
: a member of a group of Indigenous peoples of the southwestern U.S.
2
: any of the Athabascan languages of the Apache people
3
apache [French, from Apache "Apache"]
a
: a member of a gang of criminals especially in Paris
b
: ruffian
Apachean
ə-ˈpa-chē-ən How to pronounce Apache (audio)
adjective or noun

Examples of Apache in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
In late March, two Apache helicopters were flagged by the Army for flying low and hovering near Kid Rock's Nashville house. — Elise Spenner, ABC News, 10 July 2026 In 2021, the company had just the TVS Apache bike in its premium portfolio with four different versions, starting at $1,200. — Anu Raghunathan, Forbes.com, 9 July 2026 From the thorny starting point of an Apache raid on a Western homestead, Costner weaves a complex, multi-perspective tale that wrestles with the romance and realities of American colonialism and mythmaking. — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 3 July 2026 His latest partnership, with silversmith Neil Zarama of the Chiricahua Apache Nation, includes this belt buckle inspired by the Ketoh, a wrist guard traditionally worn by archers. — Justin Fenner, Robb Report, 17 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for Apache

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish, perhaps from Zuni ʔa·paču Navajo, Apachean

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Apache was in 1703

Rhymes for Apache

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Browse Nearby Words

apace with
Apache
Apachean
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Cite this Entry

“Apache.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Apache. Accessed 15 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

Apache

noun
ə-ˈpach-ē How to pronounce Apache (audio)
plural Apache or Apaches
: a member of a group of Indigenous peoples of the southwestern U.S.
also : any of the languages of the Apache people

More from Merriam-Webster on Apache

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Apache

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