Arawak

noun

Ar·​a·​wak ˈa-rə-ˌwäk 

-ˌwak,

ˈer-ə-

plural Arawak or Arawaks

1

: a member of an Indian people of the Arawakan group now living chiefly along the coast of Guyana

2

: the language of the Arawak people

Examples of Arawak in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Garifuna are an ethnocultural group descending from enslaved African people and indigenous tribes including the Arawak, Kalinago and Afro-Caribbean peoples who originated on the Caribbean islands and settled on the South American Caribbean coast. —Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA TODAY, 18 Mar. 2025

The Indigenous Arawak people, who had initially welcomed the Europeans, had grown weary of their demands. —Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Mar. 2025

The island’s motto, Out of Many, One People, tells a story of culinary evolution— where Arawak and Taíno traditions merge with West African influences, British and Spanish colonial legacies, and the flavors of Chinese, Indian, and Middle Eastern migrants. —Daphne Ewing-Chow, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025

The Indigenous Arawak people were becoming tired of their demands. —Joe Rao, Space.com, 6 Mar. 2025

Here, there’s a sacred fountain inspired by the original Arawak fountain discovered in Anguilla over 1,500 years ago. —Lydia Mansel, Travel + Leisure, 15 Feb. 2025

The resort is walking distance from downtown Nassau, where guests can learn about the history of the Bahamas at historic Bay Street, and taste local favorites at Arawak Cay. —Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 13 Dec. 2024

This secluded wellness oasis offers a holistic approach to well-being, drawing inspiration from the island's Indigenous Arawak tribe. —Sandra MacGregor, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024

For authentic Bahamian food and drink, make a beeline for Arawak Cay, which is dotted with mom-and-pop restaurants and bars housed in colorful buildings. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 27 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

earlier Arwaca, Aroaca, an Arawak subgroup of 16th century Trinidad, perhaps from an Arawak name for the subgroup

First Known Use

1769, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Arawak

• aftershock
• antiknock
• hollyhock
• interlock
• isopach
• manioc
• shuttlecock
• tomahawk
• weathercock
• alcock
• beanstalk
• bedrock

Kids Definition

Arawak

noun

Ar·​a·​wak ˈar-ə-ˌwäk 

plural Arawak or Arawaks

: a member of an Indigenous people chiefly of Guyana