Meaning & use
Sachem
Last updated
A chief or leader among certain Native American peoples, especially the Algonquian-speaking nations of the northeastern United States.
See it in a sentence
The sachem negotiated a treaty with the early colonial settlers.
Tammany Hall's political leaders adopted the title 'sachem' for their organization's officers.
A note on using this word
Borrowed from the Narragansett language in the early 1600s, 'sachem' was later used ceremonially by unrelated American organizations, such as Tammany Hall.
Words with a similar meaning
chiefchieftain
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Sachem”, then compare your use with the examples above.
Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.