Definition

Noun 1. A member of the Siouan people of the northern Mississippi valley; commonly called the Sioux: This refers to a person belonging to a group of Native American tribes originally from the northern central United States. 2. The Siouan language spoken by the Dakota people: This refers to the language traditionally spoken by these tribes. 3. The area of the states of North Dakota and South Dakota: This is a geographic reference to the region comprising these two U.S. states.

Usage Examples

• As a member of a people:
  • She is a Dakota who teaches traditional crafts.
  • The museum exhibit honors the history of the Dakota.
• As a language:
  • Fewer people are fluent in Dakota today.
  • He is studying to learn the Dakota language.
• As a geographic region:
  • They traveled across Dakota to see the Badlands.
  • The economy of Dakota relies heavily on agriculture.

Advanced Usage

• "Dakota" is often used in a historical or cultural context to distinguish specific tribal groups within the broader Sioux nation (e.g., Santee Dakota, Yankton Dakota).
• In geographical contexts, it can sometimes be used informally to refer to the two states as a single region, as in "the Dakota plains."

Variants and Related Words

• Dakotan (noun): A native or inhabitant of the state of North Dakota or South Dakota.
  • The Dakotans voted in the election.
• Sioux (noun): The broader confederation of related tribes that includes the Dakota, as well as the Lakota and Nakota.
• Lakota (noun): A closely related Siouan people and language, often considered a dialect of the same language continuum as Dakota.

Synonyms

• For the people: Sioux (broader term), Native American (general term).
• For the region: The Dakotas, North and South Dakota.

Related Phrases

• Dakota Territory: The historic U.S. territory that existed from 1861 until 1889, before North and South Dakota became separate states.
  • Settlers moved into the Dakota Territory in the 19th century.

Noun

1. the Siouan language spoken by the Dakota
2. the area of the states of North Dakota and South Dakota
3. a member of the Siouan people of the northern Mississippi valley; commonly called the Sioux