Basque

noun

ˈbask  ˈbäsk 

1

: a member of a people inhabiting the western Pyrenees on the Bay of Biscay

2

: the language of the Basques of unknown relationship

3

not capitalized : a tight-fitting bodice for women

Basque adjective

Examples of Basque in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Ibar, originally from the Basque Country in Spain, was charged with the murders and was tried multiple times, in 1997 ending in a hung jury and in 2000 resulting in a sentence to death row, which was changed to a life sentence. —Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 26 June 2025

Athletic sources, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, accept that Williams is set to leave the Basque Country for Barcelona in a move that is expected to further strain the clubs’ relationship. —Pol Ballús, New York Times, 19 June 2025

Spain's culinary gem: San Sebastián in the Basque Country. —Susmita Baral, Travel + Leisure, 17 June 2025

Bacalao is served in all manner of dishes; one of the most popular is with pil-pil sauce, made of olive oil, garlic and the juice of the fish, and typical in the Basque Country. —Jon Yeomans, CNN Money, 7 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

French, from Middle French, ultimately from Latin Vasco member of a group of ancient peoples inhabiting the present Basque country

First Known Use

1653, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Basque

• ask
• bask
• cask
• casque
• flask
• mask
• masque
• pasch
• task
• subtask
• unmask