A "ute" can refer to two different things:
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In the context of University of Utah athletics, a "Ute" is the name of the universitys athletic teams. The name is in honor of the American Indian tribe for which the state of Utah is named.
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In Australia and New Zealand, a "ute" is a term used to describe vehicles with a tonneau behind the passenger compartment that can be driven with a regular driver's license. The term originally referred to vehicles built on passenger car chassis and with the cargo tray integrated with the passenger body (coupé utility vehicles). However, present-day usage of the term "ute" in Australia and New Zealand has expanded to include any vehicle with an open cargo area at the rear, which would be called a pickup truck in other countries.
It is important to note that the Ute people are the Indigenous people of the Ute tribe and culture among the Indigenous peoples of the Great Basin. They had lived in sovereignty in the regions of present-day Utah and Colorado in the Southwestern United States for many centuries until Europeans settled on their lands. The state of Utah is named after the Ute tribe.
