First Nations

/ˌfɜːs(t)ˈneɪʃnz/

//ˌfɜːs(t)ˈneɪʃnz// adj

"first-nations" is a 12-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“First Nations” is uncommon English (outside the top frequency list), classed as an adjective. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

Unranked
below top-frequency English
13
letters

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - Of or pertaining to a First Nation or First Nations collectively.

Corpus desk

Index EN-first-nations · First Nations · English

First Nations · unranked · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-UNRANKED Unranked
  • LEN-MEGA 13 letters
  • VOW-4 4 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-THIN "F" thin
  • PHOTO-UNK Peer pending

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Key facts for First Nations
PropertyValue
HeadwordFirst Nations
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechAdjective
IPA/ˌfɜːs(t)ˈneɪʃnz/
Letters13
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “First Nations” in English

First Nationsfalls outside the top-100,000 ranked English words, the long-tail zone of technical, archaic, or low-frequency vocabulary, exactly where readers second-guess spellings most.

Beyond rank #100,000. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

First Nations is uncommon English outside the top frequency list, classed as anadjective, transcribed /ˌfɜːs(t)ˈneɪʃnz/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

Zero misspellings are on record for First Nations in our index, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, a sign it's visually distinctive enough not to be mixed up with another word.

Etymologically, the entry records: From an attributive use of the noun First Nations. The correct English form is First Nations, spelled F-I-R-S-T- -N-A-T-I-O-N-S.

Definition

  1. 1
    Of or pertaining to a First Nation or First Nations collectively.
  2. 2
    Of or pertaining to a First Nation or First Nations collectively.
  3. 3
    Of or pertaining to a First Nation or First Nations collectively.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how First Nations appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Generally speaking, the works of First Nations artists were made with materials such as wood, leather or cloth.
  2. As "savages" become soldiers, and soldiers become social activists, the tribe has rapidly developed a First Nations identity as advocates of both stripes mobilize memories of past resistance in different contexts. Whether the state is green or blue, therefore, Taroko memories will continue to shape the relationship between state and tribe.

Etymology

From an attributive use of the noun First Nations.

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "First Nations"?
"First Nations" is spelled F-I-R-S-T- -N-A-T-I-O-N-S. The IPA pronunciation is /ˌfɜːs(t)ˈneɪʃnz/.
What does "First Nations" mean?
As an adjective, "First Nations" means: Of or pertaining to a First Nation or First Nations collectively.
How do you pronounce "First Nations"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "First Nations" is /ˌfɜːs(t)ˈneɪʃnz/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "First Nations"?
From an attributive use of the noun First Nations. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list