an

1 of 9

indefinite article

ən,
(ˈ)an How to pronounce an (audio)
: a entry 2
an opera
an honor
A vs. an: Usage Guide

In speech and writing a is used before a consonant sound.

a door
a human

Before a vowel sound an is usual

an icicle
an honor

but especially in speech a is used occasionally, more often in some dialects than in others.

a apple
a hour
a obligation

Before a consonant sound represented by a vowel letter a is usual

a one
a union

but an also occurs though less frequently now than formerly.

an unique
such an one

Before unstressed or weakly stressed syllables with initial h both a and an are used in writing.

a historic
an historic

In the King James Version of the Old Testament and occasionally in writing and speech an is used before h in a stressed syllable.

an huntress
an hundred
children are an heritage of the Lord Psalms 127:3 (King James Version)

an

2 of 9

preposition

ən,
(ˌ)an How to pronounce an (audio)
: a entry 3 sense 1
sixty miles an hour

an

3 of 9

conjunction

variants or an'
1
 see  and
: and
2
ˈan How to pronounce an (audio) archaic : if

an

4 of 9

abbreviation (1)

year

an-

5 of 9

prefix

-an

6 of 9

noun suffix (1)

variants or -ian or less commonly -ean
1
: one that is of or relating to
American
2
: one skilled in or specializing in
phonetician

-an

7 of 9

adjective suffix

variants or -ian or less commonly -ean
1
: of or belonging to
American
Floridian
2
: characteristic of : resembling
Mozartean

-an

8 of 9

noun suffix (2)

1
: unsaturated organic compound
furan
2
: anhydride of a carbohydrate
dextran

AN

9 of 9

abbreviation (2)

airman (Navy)

Word History

Etymology

Indefinite article

Middle English, from Old English ān one — more at one

Preposition

Middle English an, on, going back to Old English a-, an, on — more at on entry 1

Abbreviation (1)

Latin annum; annus

Noun suffix (1)

-an & -ian from Middle English -an, -ian, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French -ien, from Latin -ianus, from -i- + -anus, from -anus, adjective suffix; -ean from such words as Mediterranean, European

Noun suffix (2)

International Scientific Vocabulary -an, -ane, alteration of -ene, -ine, & -one

First Known Use

Indefinite Article

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Preposition

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Conjunction

12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of an was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near an

Cite this Entry

“An.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/an. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

an

1 of 4 indefinite article
ən,
(ˈ)an
: a entry 2
used before words beginning with a vowel sound
an oak
an hour

an-

2 of 4

-an

3 of 4 noun suffix
variants or -ian also -ean
1
: one that belongs to
American
Bostonian
2
: one skilled in or specializing in
magician

-an

4 of 4 adjective suffix
variants or -ian also -ean
1
: of or belonging to
American
2
: characteristic of : resembling
Herculean
Etymology

Noun suffix

derived from Latin -anus, -ianus (adjective and noun suffixes)

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