Afghan

noun

Af·​ghan ˈaf-ˌgan How to pronounce Afghan (audio)
 also  -gən
1
a(1)
(2)
: pashto
b
: a native or inhabitant of Afghanistan
2
not capitalized : a blanket or shawl of colored yarn knitted or crocheted in strips or squares
3
not capitalized : a Turkoman carpet of large size and long pile woven in geometric designs
4
Afghan adjective
or Afghani
af-ˈga-nē How to pronounce Afghan (audio)
-ˈgä-

Examples of Afghan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
From Bangladeshi to Belizean, Puerto Rican to Southern, Filipino to Thai, or Cajun to Afghan, the contestants demonstrate through their cooking that there is no monolithic American cuisine. Olivia Petty, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 July 2025 The cuts on Friday have affected the State Department’s Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) office, which was tasked with relocating Afghan allies who had worked for or with the U.S. government in Afghanistan. Filip Timotija, The Hill, 11 July 2025 My hair, blowing around like that of an Afghan Hound with its head out of a car window. Matthew MacConnell, Forbes.com, 7 July 2025 When Ali Zaman, a first-generation Afghan American, opened his restaurant Blue Hour in Bushwick, Brooklyn, the menu had to have a Crunchwrap. Sowwy — a Cwunch Wap. The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for Afghan

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Persian afghān "Pashtun"

First Known Use

1742, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)

Time Traveler
The first known use of Afghan was in 1742

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Afghan.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Afghan. Accessed 22 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

Afghan

noun
Af·​ghan ˈaf-ˌgan How to pronounce Afghan (audio)
1
: a person born or living in Afghanistan
2
not capitalized : a blanket or shawl made of knitted or crocheted colored wool
Afghan adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Afghan

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!