Lakota

noun

La·​ko·​ta lə-ˈkō-tə How to pronounce Lakota (audio)
plural Lakota also Lakotas
1
: a member of a western division of the Dakota peoples
2
: a dialect of Dakota

Examples of Lakota in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
If Mark were Lakota, his name might have been Respects Nothing. — Ian Frazier, New Yorker, 29 June 2026 At the time, the Lakota were one of the largest and most powerful tribal nations, with strong leaders in Sitting Bull and warriors like Crazy Horse. — ABC News, 25 June 2026 Lakota musician and grass dancer Sequoia Crosswhite was next on stage for a tribute to the late Native American singer Gertrude Simmons Bonnin. — Angela George, Sioux Falls Argus Leader, 4 July 2026 Leather Fringe Long before America was colonized, Indigenous tribes like the Lakota and Shoshone in the Great Plains region sewed deerskin fringe trim on their garments. — Faran Krentcil, InStyle, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for Lakota

Word History

Etymology

Lakota lakʰóta, a self-designation

First Known Use

1918, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Lakota was in 1918

Rhymes for Lakota

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Browse Nearby Words

lakmus
Lakota
Lakshadweep
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Lakota.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Lakota. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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