Athabascan

noun

Ath·a·bas·can ˌa-thə-ˈba-skən

variants or Athabaskan

ˌa-thə-ˈba-skən

or less commonly Athapaskan

ˌa-thə-ˈpa-skən

or Athapascan

ˌa-thə-ˈpa-skən

: a family of languages spoken primarily by certain Indigenous peoples of western Canada, Alaska, and the U.S. Southwest

plural Athabascans or Athabaskans also Athapaskans or Athapascans : a member of a people speaking an Athabascan language

Examples of Athabascan 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.

Burk is Alaska Native, Dene’ and Lower Tanana Athabascan. —

Anna Canny, NPR, 13 Sep. 2024 The people living in the area were likely ancestors to the Tanana Athabascan people, a semi-nomadic hunting, trapping, and fishing tribe of inland Alaska Natives. —

Katie Hill, Outdoor Life, 18 Jan. 2024 Willis’s family are Koyukon Athabascan and are part of the Huslia tribe. —

Nicolás Viñuela, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023 The ensuing novel offers prime adventure while deftly weaving aspects of the Koyukon Athabascan culture that forms Sam, Cara and other major characters. —

David James, Anchorage Daily News, 4 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Athabasca, a Cree band, from Cree dialect aδapaska·w, name for the area east of Lake Athabasca, literally, (where) there are reeds one after another

First Known Use

1830, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler

The first known use of Athabascan was in 1830

See more words from the same year