Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com

Lenape

American  
[len-uh-pee, luh-nah-pee, luh-nah-pey] / ˈlɛn ə pi, ləˈnɑ pi, ləˈnɑ peɪ /

noun

  • Lenapes,
    plural
  • Lenape
    plural
  1. Delaware.


Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

Etymology

Origin of Lenape

1720–30, < Unami Delaware ləná·p·e (equivalent to Proto-Algonquian *elen- ordinary + *-a·pe·w man)

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

After all, Lenape territory remains unceded, no matter how many times it is acknowledged.

From Slate Aug. 17, 2026

Suddenly in 1745 among the Lenape, Brainerd led an awakening.

From The Wall Street Journal Jun. 19, 2026

As a Quaker, Penn sought peaceful interactions with the Lenape people, said Jean Soderlund, a retired professor of history at Lehigh University.

From Seattle Times Jan. 11, 2024

Lehigh University’s Bethlehem campus is home to the Delaware Nation of Oklahoma’s extension Tribal Historic Preservation Office, which is part of their Lenape homelands.

From Washington Times Oct. 13, 2023

But after we learned about the Lenape, the Lenape people, I couldn’t do that hand thing anymore.

From "Harbor Me" by Jacqueline Woodson

Leaders of both the Nanticokes and Lenapes said they had tried for years to buy the parcels, but they either couldn’t make the deal come together or they didn’t have enough money.

From Washington Post Nov. 28, 2021

The indigenous, matriarchal Lenapes got short shrift; Quakers and Jews were not accepted originally, until the West India Company overruled Gov. Peter Stuyvesant.

From New York Times Jan. 4, 2018

Fired at the treachery of these people, and maddened with the loss of their brothers in arms, the Lenapes retired to the thick covert to consult on what was best to be done.

From Traditions of the North American Indians, Vol. 2 by James Athearn Jones

Soon he returned, and told our people that there was a band of Indians encamped in the path of the Lenapes, at a little distance from us.

From Traditions of the North American Indians, Vol. 2 by James Athearn Jones

So one band, the strongest of the Lenapes, remained beyond the Mississippi, while the others prepared to encounter the nations who were the present lords of the soil.

From Traditions of the North American Indians, Vol. 2 by James Athearn Jones

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Join 12,000,000 vocabulary learners

Start learning new words today on VocabTrainer.
You'll remember them forever.

Start training