Navajo

noun

Na·​va·​jo ˈna-və-ˌhō  ˈnä- 

variants or less commonly Navaho

1

plural Navajo or Navajos also Navaho or Navahos : a member of an Indigenous people of northern New Mexico and Arizona and southern Utah

2

: the language of the Navajo people

Examples of Navajo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

States in permanent standard time Hawaii and Arizona do not observe daylight saving time except in the Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona. —Kelly Tyko, Axios, 2 Nov. 2024

The Navajo Nation is the lone exception in Arizona. —Chris Sims, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Nov. 2024

Federal law prohibits states from enacting permanent daylight saving time, but Arizona (except for the Navajo Nation) and Hawaii have instead made standard time permanent, which is perfectly acceptable under federal law. —Jeanine Santucci, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024

Mohave and Navajo counties flagged 10 and 14 voter registration forms, respectively, and referred them to the Attorney General’s Office in 2023. —Maritza Dominguez, The Arizona Republic, 1 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Spanish (Apache de) Navajó, literally, Apache of Navajó, from Navajó, area occupied by Navajos, probably from Tewa (Pueblo Indian language of northern New Mexico) navahu·, literally, arroyo with planted fields

First Known Use

1808, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

Navajo

noun

Na·​va·​jo

variants also Navaho

ˈnav-ə-ˌhō  ˈnäv- 

plural Navajo or Navajos also Navaho or Navahos

: a member of an Indigenous people of northern New Mexico and Arizona