# Cree

/ˈkɹi/ (US) · /kɹˈiː/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cree
Updated: 2026-05-11

## Definition

a member of a large group of Indigenous people living in North America, mostly in Canada. It also refers to the language they speak.

For teachers: a member of a major North American First Nations people whose traditional territory spans from the Rocky Mountains to the Atlantic coast. When referring to the language, it describes a dialect continuum within the Algonquian family.

## Examples

- The Cree community hosted a traditional gathering.
- Many Cree communities in northern Quebec continue to practice traditional hunting and fishing while managing modern local government.
- The preservation of the Cree language is supported by a unique syllabic writing system that was developed in the nineteenth century and remains in use across several provinces today.

## Usage notes

- The plural can be 'Cree' or 'Crees'; the singular form is often used as a collective noun or an attributive modifier.

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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.