Onondaga

American  

[on-uhn-daw-guh, -dah-, -dey-] / ˌɒn ənˈdɔ gə, -ˈdɑ-, -ˈdeɪ- /

noun

plural

Onondagas,

plural

Onondaga

1. a member of a tribe of Iroquoian Indians formerly inhabiting the region of Onondaga Lake.

2. the dialect of the Seneca language spoken by these Indians.

3. Lake, a salt lake in central New York. 5 miles (8 km) long; 1 mile (1.6 km) wide.

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Onondaga British  

/ ˌɒnənˈdɑːɡə /

noun

1. a salt lake in central New York State. Area: about 13 sq km (5 sq miles)

2. a member of a North American Indian Iroquois people formerly living between Lake Champlain and the St Lawrence River

3. the language of this people, belonging to the Iroquoian family

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Other Word Forms

• Onondagan adjective

Etymology

Origin of Onondaga

From the Onondaga word onǫ́·tàʔke on the hill, the name of the main Onondaga town, at successive locations

Example Sentences

Micron recently broke ground on what the company says will eventually be a $100 billion chip-making complex in Onondaga County, N.Y.

From Barron's • Jan. 27, 2026

Meanwhile, on Friday, Micron broke ground on what the company says will eventually be a $100 billion chip-making complex in Onondaga County, N.Y.

From Barron's • Jan. 19, 2026

On Friday, Micron broke ground on what the company says will eventually be a $100 billion “megafab” in Onondaga County, N.Y.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 17, 2026

At a news conference on Tuesday, Onondaga County District Attorney Bill Fitzpatrick had ordered the players to turn themselves in within 48 hours or risk being prosecuted as adults.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2025

The shaken Tododaho agreed to add the Onondaga to the nascent alliance.

From "1491" by Charles C. Mann