Nez Perce

or Nez Per·cé

[ nez purs; French ney per-sey ]

noun

, plural Nez Per·ces [nez, , pur, -siz, ney pe, r, -, sey], (especially collectively) Nez Per·ce

1. Also called Ni·mii·puu [nee-, mee, -poo]. a member of a North American Indian people of the Sahaptin family.
2. Also called Ni·mi·puu·timt [nee-mee-poo-, timt]. the Sahaptin language of the Nez Perce.

adjective

1. of or relating to the Nez Perce or their language.

Nez Percé

/ ˈnɛz ˈpɜːs; ne pɛrse /

noun

1. Nez PercésˈpɜːsɪzpɛrseNez Percé a member of a North American Indian people of the Pacific coast, a tribe of the Sahaptin
2. the Sahaptin language of this people

Word History and Origins

Origin of Nez Perce¹

First recorded in 1805–15; from French: literally, “pierced nose”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Nez Perce¹

French, literally: pierced nose

Example Sentences

Gladstone, who is of Blackfeet and Nez Perce heritage, made Oscar history earlier this year as the first Native American to be nominated for lead actress for her performance in “Killers of the Flower Moon.”

From Los Angeles Times

The Nez Perce Tribe and the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation also responded and helped by collecting and scanning transponders on the dead fish.

From BBC

Employees from a local hatchery, members of the Nez Perce tribe and the Union County Sheriff’s Office came to help and to clean up the fish.

From New York Times

Born on Montana’s Blackfeet Indian Reservation, Gladstone has worn tennis shoes, scuffed boots and fur-trimmed moccasins for publicity appearances, often with another accessory or pattern that recalls her Siksikaitsitapi and Nez Perce heritage.

From Los Angeles Times

Gladstone, who is of Piegan Blackfeet and Nez Perce heritage, is the first Native American actress to be nominated for an Oscar.

From Salon