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 

1

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

2

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

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