Seneca

noun

Sen·​e·​ca ˈse-ni-kə How to pronounce Seneca (audio)
1
plural Seneca or Senecas : a member of an Indigenous people of western New York
2
: the Iroquoian language of the Seneca people

Word History

Etymology

Dutch Sennecaas, plural, the Iroquois living west of the Mohawk

First Known Use

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Seneca was circa 1616

Dictionary Entries Near Seneca

Cite this Entry

“Seneca.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Seneca. Accessed 18 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

Seneca

noun
Sen·​e·​ca ˈsen-i-kə How to pronounce Seneca (audio)
: a member of an Indigenous people of western New York

Biographical Definition

Seneca

biographical name

Sen·​e·​ca ˈse-ni-kə How to pronounce Seneca (audio)
Lucius Annaeus 4 b.c.?–a.d. 65 Roman statesman, dramatist, and philosopher
Senecan adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Seneca

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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