# Ottawa

/ˈɑtəˌwɑ/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. capital city

noun · CEFR B1

the capital city of Canada, located in the province of Ontario.

For teachers: the capital city of Canada, situated on the south bank of the Ottawa River in eastern Ontario.

- We visited the Parliament buildings during our summer trip to Ottawa.
- Ottawa serves as the political and administrative centre of Canada, hosting numerous national museums and foreign embassies along its historic canal.

### 2. the Canadian government

noun · CEFR B2

the federal government of Canada.

For teachers: a metonym for the federal government of Canada, its departments, or its political leadership.

- Ottawa announced new rules for international travellers this morning.
- Tensions between the provincial leaders and Ottawa increased following the announcement of the new federal carbon tax policy.

### 3. Indigenous people

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

an Indigenous North American people, also called the Odawa, or their language.

For teachers: an Algonquian-speaking North American Indigenous people, or the specific dialect of the Ojibwe language they speak.

- The Ottawa people were known for their skills as traders across the Great Lakes.
- Historical records indicate that the Ottawa maintained a vast trade network, acting as intermediaries between various tribes and European settlers.

## Examples

- Ottawa is the capital of Canada.
- Many people visit Ottawa in the winter to skate on the frozen Rideau Canal.
- As the political heart of the nation, Ottawa hosts numerous foreign embassies and the Parliament Buildings, which overlook the river from a high limestone cliff.

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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.