# Cherokee

/ˈtʃɛɹəˌki/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cherokee
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the people

noun · CEFR B2

a person who belongs to the Cherokee nation, one of the largest Native American groups.

For teachers: a member of the Cherokee people, an indigenous nation originally from the southeastern United States and later forcibly relocated to Oklahoma.

- The artist is a proud Cherokee who uses traditional patterns in her modern paintings.
- Many Cherokee families today are working to preserve their cultural heritage and ancestral stories for future generations.

### 3. relating to the people or language

adjective · CEFR B2

related to the Cherokee people, their culture, or their language.

For teachers: of or relating to the Cherokee people, their culture, or their specific linguistic traditions.

- We visited a museum to see a collection of Cherokee baskets and tools.
- The exhibit featured several Cherokee artifacts that demonstrated the sophisticated social structure of the nation before European contact.

## Examples

- The Cherokee tribe has a rich cultural history.
- She learned to speak Cherokee from her grandmother during summer visits to Oklahoma.
- The forced removal of the Cherokee people, known as the Trail of Tears, remains a pivotal and tragic chapter in American history.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.