noun
Common
Ottawa
O-tuh-wuh
Ottawa (noun) means the capital city of Canada, located in Ontario, and by extension the country's federal government. Example: “The delegation flew to Ottawa to meet with the prime minister.”
noun
1
The capital city of Canada, located in Ontario, and by extension the country's federal government.
"The delegation flew to Ottawa to meet with the prime minister."
"Ottawa announced new funding for provincial hospitals."
2
A member of the Ottawa (Odawa) people, an Indigenous nation closely related to the Ojibwe.
"Her grandmother grew up in an Ottawa community near Georgian Bay."
How to use Ottawa
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishBoth a Canadian city/government and the name of an Indigenous people.
Common mistake
When people say "Ottawa announced," they mean the federal government, not literally the city.
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Word forms
- Plural
- Ottawas
Fill the gap
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The delegation flew to _____ to meet with the prime minister.
Etymology
From the Ojibwe word odaawaa, meaning "trader," tracing back to a Proto-Algonquian root for trading.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for Ottawa
See all rhymes for Ottawa →Frequently asked questions
What does “Ottawa” mean?
The word “Ottawa” means the capital city of Canada, located in Ontario, and by extension the country's federal government. In plain terms, both a Canadian city/government and the name of an Indigenous people.
How do you pronounce “Ottawa”?
“Ottawa” is pronounced O-tuh-wuh (/ˈɑtəwə/ in IPA).
How do you use “Ottawa” in a sentence?
Here is “Ottawa” used in a sentence: “The delegation flew to Ottawa to meet with the prime minister.”
What is another word for “Ottawa”?
Words with a similar meaning to “Ottawa” include National Capital Region, NCR, Ottawa-Hull, Ottawa-Gatineau and O-town.
What part of speech is “Ottawa”?
“Ottawa” is a noun.
Is “Ottawa” a common word?
“Ottawa” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “Ottawa” have?
“Ottawa” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the capital city of Canada, located in Ontario, and by extension the country's federal government.
Is Ottawa or Toronto the capital of Canada?
Ottawa is the capital of Canada. Toronto is the country's largest city, but the seat of the federal government is Ottawa, located in the province of Ontario.
Who are the Ottawa people?
The Ottawa, also written Odawa, are an Indigenous nation closely related to the Ojibwe. An individual member of the nation can also be called an Ottawa, so the word names both the people and Canada's capital city.
What province is Ottawa in?
Ottawa is in Ontario. It sits within the National Capital Region, and its metropolitan area, known as Ottawa-Gatineau, extends across the river into Quebec.
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