Yakama

noun

Yak·​a·​ma ˈya-kə-ˌmȯ How to pronounce Yakama (audio)
variants or Yakima
plural Yakama or Yakamas or Yakima or Yakimas
1
: a member of a group of Sahaptin peoples of the lower Yakima River valley, south central Washington
2
: the language of the Yakama people

Examples of Yakama in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The mountain itself is a place of immense spiritual and cultural importance to the Puyallup, Cowlitz, Muckleshoot, Nisqually and Yakama people, to name just a few. Corbin Reiff, Smithsonian Magazine, 15 Oct. 2024 Washington state already allows tolling exemptions for a handful of tribes, including the Nez Perce and Yakama Nation. Carleen Johnson | The Center Square, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 2 Oct. 2024 As usual, here are some stories about the challenges and opportunities of the clean energy transition: Federal officials promised the Yakama Nation $32 million to put solar panels over canals. Sammy Roth, Los Angeles Times, 26 Sep. 2024 The Green Energy Traffic Jam The Yakama Nation in many ways faces the same pressures that are holding back new wind and solar farms across the country. ProPublica, 20 Sep. 2024 They were joined shortly after by the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation. B. “toastie” Oaster, ProPublica, 12 Aug. 2024 Third, the Yakama Nation could withhold sensitive information altogether, which would present similar problems. B. “toastie” Oaster, ProPublica, 26 June 2024 Caye grew up on the Flathead Indian Reservation southeast of the Yaak and on the Yakama Reservation in Washington State. Alexis Marie Adams, Scientific American, 19 Mar. 2024 The Settlers, members of the Yakama Nation, have been deeply affected by the Northwest’s salmon policies for generations. ProPublica, 13 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Yakama.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

earlier Eyakima, the Yakima River, Yakamas, perhaps from Sahaptin iyakíma, literally, pregnant ones

First Known Use

1838, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Yakama was in 1838

Dictionary Entries Near Yakama

Cite this Entry

“Yakama.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Yakama. Accessed 4 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!