Cheyenne

American  

[shahy-en, -an] / ʃaɪˈɛn, -ˈæn /

noun

plural

Cheyennes,

plural

Cheyenne

1. a member of a North American Indian people of the western plains, formerly in central Minnesota and North and South Dakota, and now divided between Montana and Oklahoma.

2. an Algonquian language, the language of the Cheyenne Indians.

3. a city in and the capital of Wyoming, in the S part.

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Cheyenne ¹ British  

/ ʃaɪˈæn /

noun

1. a member of a Native American people of the western Plains, now living chiefly in Montana and Oklahoma

2. the language of this people, belonging to the Algonquian family

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Cheyenne ² British  

/ -ˈɛn, ʃaɪˈæn /

noun

1. a city in SE Wyoming, capital of the state. Pop: 54 374 (2003 est)

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Etymology

Origin of Cheyenne

via Canadian French from Dakota Shaiyena, from shaia to speak incoherently, from sha red + ya to speak

Example Sentences

The tech giant said it has committed more than $68 million in completed and future off-site infrastructure improvements across Cheyenne.

From Barron's • Apr. 14, 2026

The two accusers were interviewed alongside Cheyenne Hunt, a Democratic influencer who posted a video describing several women's accusations against Swalwell, bringing the issue to the public's attention.

From BBC • Apr. 14, 2026

Aspiring actor and “Euphoria” fan Cheyenne Washington, who grew up in a small town in Connecticut, also recognized the characters.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2026

After leaving Cheyenne Mountain and getting a master’s degree, I co-taught a course on the making and use of the atomic bomb at the Air Force Academy.

From Salon • Dec. 7, 2025

As the soldiers fled, the Lakota, Cheyenne, and Arapaho fighters rode in among them.

From "In the Footsteps of Crazy Horse" by Joseph Marshall III