Algonquin

American  

[al-gong-kin, -kwin] / ælˈgɒŋ kɪn, -kwɪn /

noun

plural

Algonquins,

plural

Algonquin

1. a member of a group of North American Indian tribes formerly along the Ottawa River and the northern tributaries of the St. Lawrence River.

2. their speech, a dialect of Ojibwe, of the Algonquian family of languages.

3. Algonquian.

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adjective

1. Algonquian.

Algonquin British  

/ -kwɪn, ælˈɡɒŋkɪn, ælˈɡɒŋkɪn /

noun

1. a member of a North American Indian people formerly living along the St Lawrence and Ottawa Rivers in Canada

2. the language of this people, a dialect of Ojibwa

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noun

1. a variant of Algonquian

Etymology

Origin of Algonquin

First recorded in 1615–25; from French; earlier Algoumequin, presumably from an Algonquian language

Example Sentences

Gain insight Emera, Algonquin Power, Enbridge and more in the latest Market Talks covering energy and utilities.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 10, 2026

Starboard argued at the time that the sale of the “substantial majority” of Algonquin Power’s renewables assets could help the company reduce leverage and improve earnings per share.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

A theme of this brief royal visit has been paying respects to the First Nations people and the King noted that Parliament was meeting on the territory of the Algonquin people.

From BBC • May 27, 2025

Some scholars believe the now-offensive term originated from the Algonquin language, which was spoken by many tribes on the East Coast, and originally meant “woman,” but was later corrupted by European colonists.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 15, 2024

One could trace the illusory properties of the Potomac’s waters all the way back to John Smith, who first explored the mouth of what the Algonquin Indians had named “Petomek,” meaning “trading place,” in 1608.

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis