What does "metis" mean?
A member of one of these three Canadian Aboriginal peoples.
Metis
/meɪˈtiː(s)/ adj, name, noun
adj, name, noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A member of one of these three Canadian Aboriginal peoples.
- Grammar: metis is listed as adj, name, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: cross, crossbreed, eurasian, half breed.
- Usage evidence: Jupiter has four inner satellites: Metis, Adrastea, Amalthea, and Thebe. Their orbits are very close to the planet.
How to use "metis"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "metis" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "metis" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "metis" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "metis" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "metis" is acting as adj, name, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "cross" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "metis", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A member of one of these three Canadian Aboriginal peoples. Canada, US
"Gabriel Du Pre is a Metis, a descendent^([sic]) of the Cree, Chippewa and Ojibwe tribes mixed with French."
- 2 A person of mixed-race ancestry.
- 3 Practical intelligence; street smarts. uncountable
- 4 plural of METI form-of, plural
- 5 a person in western Canada who is of Caucasian and American Indian ancestry wordnet
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A person of mixed European and Aboriginal descent. Canada
"He is a Métis, that is, the son of a white father and Indian mother. He has dwelt long in cities where Europeans have conducted business, and speaks English and French very well; the other two chiefs are a Negro and an Indian: […]"
- 7 Alternative letter-case form of Metis (“a member of one of three Canadian Aboriginal peoples; any person of mixed European and Indigenous descent”). Canada, US, alt-of
- 8 A person of one-eighth black ancestry; an octoroon. US
Adjective
- 1 Of mixed heritage not-comparable
- 2 Of Métis heritage. not-comparable
Proper Noun
- 1 One of three recognized Aboriginal peoples of Canada, descendants of marriages of Cree, Ojibwa, Saulteaux, and Menominee Aboriginal people with French Canadians, Scots and English. Canada
- 2 A Titan who was the personification of wisdom, the first spouse of Zeus, and the mother of Athena Greek
- 3 A satellite of Jupiter.
- 4 9 Metis, a main belt asteroid.
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"Jupiter has four inner satellites: Metis, Adrastea, Amalthea, and Thebe. Their orbits are very close to the planet."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "metis"?
Common synonyms include: cross, crossbreed, eurasian, half breed, hybrid, ladino.
How do you use "metis" in a sentence?
Jupiter has four inner satellites: Metis, Adrastea, Amalthea, and Thebe. Their orbits are very close to the planet.
How do you pronounce "metis"?
Pronounced /meɪˈtiː(s)/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from French métis, from Old French mestis, from Late Latin mixtīcius. Métis originally referred to Francophone and Cree-speaking descendants of the French-Catholic Red River Métis in Manitoba. Compare metis, mestizo, mustee, and Mestee.
Etymology 2
From Ancient Greek Μῆτις (Mêtis) from Ancient Greek μῆτις (mêtis, “wisdom”).
Etymology 3
Borrowed from French métis, from Late Latin mixticius, from Latin mixtus (“mixed”). Akin to mestizo, which came from Spanish. More at Metis.
Etymology 4
From Ancient Greek μῆτις (mêtis).