Navajo

noun

Na·​va·​jo ˈna-və-ˌhō How to pronounce Navajo (audio) ˈnä- How to pronounce Navajo (audio)
variants or less commonly Navaho
1
plural Navajo or Navajos also Navaho or Navahos : a member of an Indigenous people of northern New Mexico and Arizona and southern Utah
2
: the language of the Navajo people

Examples of Navajo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Areas under the jurisdiction of the Navajo Nation also do not follow DST. William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025 Robert De Niro’s Number One Priority Is Getting Rid of Trump With sequences filmed throughout the Navajo Nation, this remains one of the best-looking shows being made today. Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 8 Mar. 2025 Because of its desert climate, Arizona doesn't follow daylight saving time (with the exception of the Navajo Nation). Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 8 Mar. 2025 Which states don't observe daylight saving time Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe daylight saving time, except the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona. Kelly Tyko, Axios, 8 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Navajo

Word History

Etymology

Spanish (Apache de) Navajó, literally, Apache of Navajó, from Navajó, area occupied by Navajos, probably from Tewa (Pueblo Indian language of northern New Mexico) navahu·, literally, arroyo with planted fields

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Navajo was in 1808

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Navajo.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Navajo. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

Navajo

noun
Na·​va·​jo
variants also Navaho
plural Navajo or Navajos also Navaho or Navahos
: a member of an Indigenous people of northern New Mexico and Arizona

More from Merriam-Webster on Navajo

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