African

noun

Af·ri·can | \ ˈa-fri-kən also ˈä-

\

Definition of African

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a native or inhabitant of Africa

2 : a person and especially a black person of African ancestry

African

adjective

Definition of African (Entry 2 of 2)

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the continent of Africa or its people

History and Etymology for African

Noun

Middle English Aufrican, Affrican, going back to Old English Africanas (plural), borrowed from Latin Āfricānus african entry 2

Adjective

borrowed from Latin Āfricānus, from Āfrica (short for Āfrica terra, literally, "African land," from feminine of Āfricus "of the Roman province of Africa [present-day northern Tunisia], of the continent of Africa," from Āfr-, Āfer "of Africa, inhabitant of North Africa [other than Egypt]" —of unknown origin— + -icus -ic entry 1) + -ānus -an entry 2

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about African

Dictionary Entries near African

African American

African American Vernacular English

Statistics for African

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for African

The first known use of African was before the 12th century

See more words from the same century

Keep scrolling for more

More Definitions for African

African

noun

English Language Learners Definition of African

: a person born, raised, or living in Africa

: a descendant of Africans

See the full definition for African in the English Language Learners Dictionary

African

noun

Af·ri·can | \ ˈa-fri-kən

\

Kids Definition of African

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a person born or living in Africa

African

adjective

Kids Definition of African (Entry 2 of 2)

: of or relating to Africa or African people African history African wildlife

Keep scrolling for more

WORD OF THE DAY

secrete

to deposit or conceal in a hiding place

Test Your Vocabulary

Name that Food Quiz

Name these cookies!

Name That Thing

Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games