apache: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal for ethnic/cultural reference; technical for web server; informal for 'gangster' usage.
Quick answer
What does “apache” mean?
A Native American people historically inhabiting the southwestern United States.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A Native American people historically inhabiting the southwestern United States.
1. The U.S. AH-64 attack helicopter. 2. A widely used open-source web server software. 3. (Informal) A Parisian gangster or hooligan. 4. (Historically) A violent ruffian, especially in Victorian London.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In the UK, the informal 'Apache' for a hooligan/Victorian ruffian is more recognised due to historical/pop culture (e.g., 'The Apache Dance'). In the US, the primary associations are the Native American people, the helicopter, and the software.
Connotations
In US contexts, direct reference to the Apache people requires cultural sensitivity. The software and helicopter terms are neutral technical terms. The UK's historical 'ruffian' usage is now dated/archaic.
Frequency
The software term 'Apache' is high-frequency in global IT contexts. The ethnic/cultural term is medium-frequency in North American historical/educational contexts. Other uses are low-frequency.
Grammar
How to Use “apache” in a Sentence
The Apache [verb: lived, fought, resisted]Configure the Apache [noun: server, software]Deploy the Apache [noun: helicopters]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “apache” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- Apache heritage
- Apache traditions
American English
- Apache lands
- Apache software foundation
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Refers almost exclusively to the Apache web server software in IT discussions.
Academic
Used in anthropology, history, and North American studies to refer to the Indigenous people and their culture.
Everyday
Rare in casual conversation. Might be used when discussing software, history, or military aviation.
Technical
Precise term for the Apache HTTP Server project or the Boeing AH-64 Apache helicopter.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “apache”
- Using lowercase 'apache' when referring to the people.
- Confusing the software with other web servers like Nginx in technical writing.
- Using the historical 'ruffian' meaning in modern contexts where it is archaic.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, when referring to the people, the language, the software project, or the helicopter. It is a proper noun.
In global terms, its most frequent use is for the Apache HTTP Server, the open-source web server software.
No, it is the standard English exonym for this specific group. However, as with all references to Indigenous peoples, it should be used with respect and accuracy, preferably within the context they prefer (e.g., specific band names like Chiricahua).
The name was chosen from respect for the Native American Apache Nation, known for their endurance and strategic skills. It was also a playful reference to being 'a patchy' server (from early patches to the NCSA code).
A Native American people historically inhabiting the southwestern United States.
Apache is usually formal for ethnic/cultural reference; technical for web server; informal for 'gangster' usage. in register.
Apache: in British English it is pronounced /əˈpætʃi/, and in American English it is pronounced /əˈpætʃi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(Old slang) Go on the Apache: to behave like a violent ruffian.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a WEB SERVER (Apache) running in a TENT (suggesting the Native American people), with a HELICOPTER (Apache) flying overhead.
Conceptual Metaphor
WARRIOR/RESOURCEFUL FIGHTER (applied to the people, the helicopter's role, and the software's robustness in serving web pages).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Apache' LEAST likely to be used?