Arikara

noun

Arik·​a·​ra ə-ˈri-kə-rə How to pronounce Arikara (audio)
1
plural Arikara : a member of an Indigenous people of the Missouri River valley in North Dakota

Note: The Arikara are federally recognized as part of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation in North Dakota.

2
: the language of the Arikara

Examples of Arikara 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.
And in fall 2024, the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nation opened the Three Affiliated Tribes National Park in North Dakota, joining the Red Cliff Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, who established Frog Bay Tribal National Park in Wisconsin in 2012—the first of its kind. — Latria Graham, AFAR Media, 6 Aug. 2025 The map also shows Arikara hunting grounds and wintering places, located west of the villages. — Livia Gershon, JSTOR Daily, 13 June 2025 The company worked with the indigenous MHA Nation tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara) on the dire wolf project, and the tribes have expressed a desire to have dire wolves live on their lands in North Dakota. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 7 Apr. 2025 Wolves became a focus at Colossal after Lamm and James had a meeting with The MHA (Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara) Nation in central North Dakota. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Arikara

Word History

Etymology

probably from a Pawnee name for an Arikara band

First Known Use

1811, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Arikara was in 1811

Rhymes for Arikara

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Browse Nearby Words

Ariidae
Arikara
ariki
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Cite this Entry

“Arikara.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Arikara. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on Arikara

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Arikara

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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