Ute

noun

ˈyüt 

1

plural Ute or Utes : a member of an Indigenous people originally ranging through Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico

Note: Current-day members live as part of the federally recognized Ute Indian Tribe (Northern Ute) of the Uinta and Ouray Reservation of Northeastern Utah or the federally recognized Southern Ute Tribe of Colorado.

2

: the Uto-Aztecan language of the Ute people

Examples of Ute in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In its base spec, the Commodore Ute was fitted with a 3.8-liter V6 and a four-speed auto or five-speed manual gearbox. —Matthew MacConnell, Forbes, 9 Oct. 2024

Established in the final month of the Obama administration, the monument carved out 1.3 million acres from BLM and Forest Service land with an abundance of cliff dwellings and cultural sites important to the Hopi Nation, Ute Indian Tribe, Ute Mountain Ute Tribe, Navajo Nation, and Zuni Pueblo. —Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 3 Oct. 2024

As an ensemble piece, the series focuses on the royal family, particularly Gunter’s sister, Kriemhild (whom Hagen secretly loves), his mother, Queen Ute, and his brothers Gernot and Giselher. —Ed Meza, Variety, 3 Oct. 2024

Because the Navajo Nation, which technically operates the monument, is strongly opposed to cannabis legalization, and the Ute Mountain Ute Tribe is on the fence about the whole thing, don’t go to the monument expecting to spark up a joint. —Rowan Briggs, The Mercury News, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

short for earlier Utah, Utaw, from American Spanish Yuta

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined at sense 1