Erie

American  

[eer-ee] / ˈɪər i /

noun

plural

Eries,

plural

Erie

1. Lake, a lake between the NE central United States and SE central Canada: the southernmost lake of the Great Lakes; site of the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813 in which Commodore Perry defeated the British. 239 miles (385 km) long; 9,940 sq. mi. (25,745 sq. km).

2. a port in NW Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie.

3. a member of a tribe of American Indians formerly living along the southern shore of Lake Erie.

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Erie ¹ British  

/ ˈɪərɪ /

noun

1. a member of a North American Indian people formerly living south of Lake Erie

2. the language of this people, possibly belonging to the Iroquoian family

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Erie ² British  

/ ˈɪərɪ /

noun

1. a lake between the US and Canada: the southernmost and the shallowest of the Great Lakes; empties by the Niagara River into Lake Ontario. Area: 25 718 sq km (9930 sq miles)

2. a port in NW Pennsylvania, on Lake Erie. Pop: 101 373 (2003 est)

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Etymology

Origin of Erie

From Erie (an Iroquoian language) Erie, Eriez, shortening of Erielhonan “long tail” (the Erie were called the Cat People, referring to the cougar)

Example Sentences

But when the New York & Erie Railroad created the first business org chart in the 1850s, capturing the complexity of the railroad’s signaling and communications, it resembled a tree.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 2026

Their analysis revealed several strains of Dolichospermum living in Lake Erie.

From Science Daily • Dec. 2, 2025

Lake effect snow downwind of Lakes Superior, Erie, and Ontario could reduce visibility on roadways on Thanksgiving, with more than a foot of snow expected in some areas by Friday.

From Barron's • Nov. 25, 2025

Speaking in Erie, Pennsylvania, Obama said: "I think at moments like this, when tensions are high, then part of the job of the president is to pull people together."

From BBC • Sep. 17, 2025

She waggled her hand in the general direction of Erie.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx