Cree

American  

[kree] / kri /

noun

plural

Crees,

plural

Cree

1. a member of a North American Indian people of Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Montana.

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

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Cree ¹ British  

/ kriː /

noun

1. a member of a Native American people living in Ontario, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba

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

3. a syllabic writing system of this and certain other languages

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cree ² British  

/ kriː /

noun

1. dialect temporary immunity from the rules of a game: said by children

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Etymology

Origin of Cree¹

from first syllable of Canadian French Christianaux, probably based on Ojibwa Kenistenoag (tribal name)

Origin of cree²

of unknown origin

Example Sentences

He is survived by his wife, Cinda Cree Hicks, six children and 14 grandchildren.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025

Based on Cree values and a commitment to Indigenous food sovereignty, it provides a rich example of a systemic and structural solution to addressing food insecurity at a more local level.

From Salon • Sep. 4, 2024

Cairo and I love the pasta with the truffle and Parmesan cheese, and Cree loves the beef ravioli.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 12, 2024

Myles Sanderson, the 32-year-old accused in the attacks on James Smith Cree Nation and in the village of Weldon, died in police custody a few days later.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 15, 2024

She was obviously Cree, but looked more plains than northern, so she was far from home.

From "The Marrow Thieves" by Cherie Dimaline