Definition

1. Noun:
   • A chief of a North American tribe or confederation (especially an Algonquian chief): A sachem is a leader or headman among certain Native American peoples, particularly those of the Algonquian language family.
   • A political leader (especially of Tammany Hall): Historically, in U.S. politics, a sachem was a high-ranking official or leader within the Tammany Hall political machine in New York City.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Tribal Leader):
  • The sachem led his people in council and in times of war.
  • The treaty was signed by the sachem and other elders of the tribe.
• Noun (Political Leader):
  • He was a powerful sachem in the Tammany Hall organization during the 19th century.
  • The political sachems met to decide on the party's candidate.

Advanced Usage

• The term sachem is often used in historical contexts, either for Native American leadership or for the specific political structure of Tammany Hall. Its modern use outside these contexts is rare.
• When referring to the political usage, it often implies a leader with significant, sometimes autocratic, influence within a closed political group.

Variants and Related Words

• Sagamore (n): A term with a similar meaning, also used for a chief among some Algonquian peoples. It is sometimes used interchangeably with sachem, though regional or tribal distinctions may exist.
• Chief (n): A more general synonym for a leader of a tribe or group.

Synonyms

• Chieftain: A leader of a tribe or clan.
• Headman: The leader or chief of a community, especially in a tribal society.
• Leader: A person who leads or commands a group.

Related Phrases

• Tammany Hall sachem: This specific phrase refers explicitly to the political bosses of the Tammany Society, which controlled New York City politics for much of the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Noun

1. a chief of a North American tribe or confederation (especially an Algonquian chief)
2. a political leader (especially of Tammany Hall)