powwow

American  

[pou-wou] / ˈpaʊˌwaʊ /

noun

1. a large gathering organized by Native Americans for socializing, dancing, singing, and celebrating their culture.

2. a council or conference of or with Native Americans.

3. (historically, among North American Indians) a ceremony accompanied by spiritual, religious, and ritual practices, along with dancing, performed for the cure of disease, success in a hunt, etc.

4. (among Native Americans) a priest or shaman.

5. Informal: Often Offensive. any conference or meeting.

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verb (used without object)

1. to hold a powwow, such as a cultural gathering, council, or spiritual ceremony for Native Americans.

2. Informal: Often Offensive. to confer.

powwow British  

/ ˈpaʊˌwaʊ /

noun

1. a talk, conference, or meeting

2. a magical ceremony of certain North American Indians, usually accompanied by feasting and dancing

3. (among certain North American Indians) a medicine man

4. a meeting of or negotiation with North American Indians

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verb

1. (intr) to hold a powwow

Sensitive Note

There are a number of words associated with Native American peoples, like brave, chief, powwow, or warpath, that have been appropriated, especially for use in sports and business. While the words are not offensive in straightforward denotative use (e.g., the chief of a tribe in Oklahoma), they become problematic when dissociated from their Indigenous referents and used to evoke a culture that the people using these words don’t know anything authentic about. Use of these terms is beyond problematic, and truly offensive, when used to evoke a caricature or stereotype, or when used as a mascot or costume, as is the case sometimes in sports. When speaking or writing about members of Tribal Nations or First Nations, it’s best to understand the history and governance of the group in question, and to reflect the language used by the members of this specific tribe or nation. Fidelity to the group’s own naming is important. In other contexts, these Native-evoking words can and should be replaced with more neutral language, where your boss is not “the chief” and there is no need for a “powwow” because teams of co-workers can just chat, meet up, or have a brainstorming session.

Etymology

Origin of powwow

An Americanism dating back to 1615–25; from Narragansett ( English spelling) powwaw “shaman, healer” (and the identical word in Massachusett ), from unattested Proto-Algonquian pawe·wa “he dreams” (used as a derived agent noun meaning “he who dreams,” i.e., one who derives his power from visions)

Explanation

A powwow is a Native American meeting or council. Originally, powwow was a Native American term that referred to a type of meeting or council. The term has since become a more general term for meetings and conferences, especially brief ones, like a huddle of players during a football game. However, this informal usage in contexts that do not relate to Native Americans or Native American cultures is now often considered offensive.

Example Sentences

Written and directed by comedian Joey Clift, this delightful short trains a humorous lens on a young boy named Jake who attends his first powwow when he’d much rather just play video games.

From Salon • Dec. 19, 2025

That unusual choice means it can be read without the centerpiece of 2018’s “There There,” which ended with Orvil, one of the main characters, in peril at a contemporary powwow in Oakland.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 27, 2024

In other cases, she said, non-Native parents might have asked about “taking the kids to a powwow or reading them a book” about their origins.

From New York Times • Jun. 15, 2023

The winner will be crowned on the final night of the powwow and will spend the next year serving as a cultural ambassador as she travels to events and other powwows.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 27, 2023

“And I have old powwow dance outfits,” he said.

From "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie