noun

powwow

POW-wow

Powwow (noun) means a gathering, especially of Native American communities, featuring dancing, singing, and ceremony. Example: “The tribe hosts an annual powwow that draws visitors from across the country.”

noun

A gathering, especially of Native American communities, featuring dancing, singing, and ceremony.

"The tribe hosts an annual powwow that draws visitors from across the country."

A short, informal meeting or discussion.

"Let's have a quick powwow before the client call."

verb

To hold an informal meeting or discussion.

"The team powwowed in the break room to plan their pitch."

How to use powwow

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishOriginally a Native American ceremonial gathering; now also used loosely for any quick meeting or chat.

When to use it

Using powwow to mean a casual business meeting can be seen as trivializing its Indigenous cultural and ceremonial origins — use with care.

Common pairings

have a powwow quick powwow

Word forms

powwowed past tense, powwows plural, powwows singular

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The tribe hosts an annual _____ that draws visitors from across the country.

Etymology

From an Eastern Algonquian word, likely Narragansett powwaw, meaning "shaman" or "one who practices magic".

Synonyms

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huddle

Related words

meeting crowd cluster huddle cower

Frequently asked questions

What does “powwow” mean?

The word “powwow” means a gathering, especially of Native American communities, featuring dancing, singing, and ceremony. In plain terms, originally a Native American ceremonial gathering; now also used loosely for any quick meeting or chat.

How do you pronounce “powwow”?

“Powwow” is pronounced POW-wow (/ˈpaʊ(ˌ)waʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “powwow” in a sentence?

Here is “powwow” used in a sentence: “The tribe hosts an annual powwow that draws visitors from across the country.”

What part of speech is “powwow”?

Depending on how it is used, “powwow” can be a noun and a verb.

How many meanings does “powwow” have?

“Powwow” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a gathering, especially of Native American communities, featuring dancing, singing, and ceremony.

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