African

1 of 2

noun

Af·​ri·​can ˈa-fri-kən 

 also  ˈä-

1

: a native or inhabitant of Africa

2

: a person and especially a Black person of African ancestry

African

2 of 2

adjective

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

Africanness

ˈa-fri-kə(n)-nəs 

noun

Examples of African in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

May 21, 2024 The campaign to keep the African National Congress in power kicked off, unofficially, under a scorching January sun in a packed soccer stadium. —John Eligon Prentice Onayemi Anna Diamond Devin Murphy, New York Times, 21 May 2024

Literacy rates that are below the global average, and lack of services in many African languages — some 2,000 are spoken across the continent, according to The African Language Program at Harvard University — are other reasons why a smartphone isn’t a compelling investment for some. —Francis Kokutse, Fortune, 20 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1548, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing African

• African American
• African American English
• African American Language
• African American Vernacular English
• African buffalo
• African clawed frog
• African clawed toad
• African daisy
• African elephant
• African gray
• African hunting dog
• African mahogany
• African sleeping sickness
• African swine fever
• African violet
• African wild dog
• inter-African
• non-African
• South African

Kids Definition

African

noun

Af·​ri·​can

ˈaf-ri-kən

1

: a person born or living in Africa

2

: a person of African ancestry

African adjective