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

Starboard first disclosed its stake in Algonquin Power in June 2023 and swiftly set about pushing for changes.

From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026

By Karen Palmer Algonquin: 256 pages, $28 If you buy books linked on our site, The Times may earn a commission from Bookshop.org, whose fees support independent bookstores.

From Los Angeles Times • Sep. 16, 2025

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 say it’s from the Algonquin for ‘the good land.’

From New York Times • Jun. 18, 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