Amer·i·can
ə-ˈmer-ə-kən 
-ˈmər-
-ˈmər-
-ˈme-rə-
1
: an American Indian of North America or South America
2
: a native or inhabitant of North America or South America
3
: a native or inhabitant of the U.S. : a U.S. citizen
4
1
: of or relating to America
American people
2
: of or relating to the U.S. or its possessions or original territory
American soldiers
American embassies
American states
American culture
Examples of American in a Sentence
Noun
Americans in all 50 states.
The President's speech began with the words “My fellow Americans…”.
Recent Examples on the Web
Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 13 Nov. 2023
My Chemical Romance will play The Black Parade, while Jimmy Eat World will celebrate Bleed American, Dashboard Confessional will revisit Dusk and Summer, and Thursday will tackle Full Collapse.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 13 Nov. 2023
Heavy metals like lead can get into food products from soil, air, water or industrial processes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
—CBS News, 13 Nov. 2023
Data presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association on Saturday indicates cardiovascular protective benefits from taking the weight loss therapeutic Wegovy for a sub-population with preexisting cardiovascular disease.
—Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
The duo previously worked together on 2007 movie American Gangster.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
In 2015, he was honored by the American Society of Cinematographers with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
Striking hotel workers staged a noisy protest Wednesday outside the Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica, the new home of the American Film Market.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2023
More than a dozen major medical organizations — including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association — support such care and have opposed the state bans.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2023
Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2023
Here’s what to know about the history of American political rematches.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 26 Nov. 2023
According to Pew Research Center, about a quarter of American adults (24%) identify as evangelical.
—Robert Costa, CBS News, 26 Nov. 2023
Perkins said they were replaced by more affluent migrants from American cities and suburbs.
—Bill Bowden, arkansasonline.com, 26 Nov. 2023
Avène The French pharmacy standby is offering a very American deal.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2023
Just days before Thanksgiving, 20-year-old Benjamin Charles Jones began shooting at a local Ohio Walmart, injuring four people — a Caucasian female, two African American females and a Caucasian male — before taking his own life.
—Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 25 Nov. 2023
The Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East has sparked concerns about religious discrimination in the U.S., creating new fissures in a divided American electorate that could help shape next year’s presidential election.
—Tarini Parti, WSJ, 25 Nov. 2023
On average, American parents experience less conflict with their secondborn than with their first.
—Sarah Sloat, The Atlantic, 14 Nov. 2023
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Noun
The festival also promises that each group will perform an album in full, with highlights including My Chemical Romance’s The Black Parade, Jimmy Eat World’s Bleed American and A Day to Remember’s Homesick.
—Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 13 Nov. 2023
My Chemical Romance will play The Black Parade, while Jimmy Eat World will celebrate Bleed American, Dashboard Confessional will revisit Dusk and Summer, and Thursday will tackle Full Collapse.
—Spin Staff, SPIN, 13 Nov. 2023
Heavy metals like lead can get into food products from soil, air, water or industrial processes, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
—CBS News, 13 Nov. 2023
Data presented at a meeting of the American Heart Association on Saturday indicates cardiovascular protective benefits from taking the weight loss therapeutic Wegovy for a sub-population with preexisting cardiovascular disease.
—Joshua Cohen, Forbes, 13 Nov. 2023
The duo previously worked together on 2007 movie American Gangster.
—Etan Vlessing, The Hollywood Reporter, 13 Nov. 2023
In 2015, he was honored by the American Society of Cinematographers with its Lifetime Achievement Award.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 13 Nov. 2023
Striking hotel workers staged a noisy protest Wednesday outside the Le Meridien Delfina Santa Monica, the new home of the American Film Market.
—Scott Roxborough, The Hollywood Reporter, 1 Nov. 2023
More than a dozen major medical organizations — including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Psychological Association — support such care and have opposed the state bans.
—Jo Yurcaba, NBC News, 1 Nov. 2023
Adjective
For the past two years, Haiti has experienced a reign of terror as rival outlaw bands battle in the streets of the capital with American assault rifles.
—Jason Motlagh, Rolling Stone, 26 Nov. 2023
Here’s what to know about the history of American political rematches.
—Josh Feldman, NBC News, 26 Nov. 2023
According to Pew Research Center, about a quarter of American adults (24%) identify as evangelical.
—Robert Costa, CBS News, 26 Nov. 2023
Perkins said they were replaced by more affluent migrants from American cities and suburbs.
—Bill Bowden, arkansasonline.com, 26 Nov. 2023
Avène The French pharmacy standby is offering a very American deal.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 26 Nov. 2023
Just days before Thanksgiving, 20-year-old Benjamin Charles Jones began shooting at a local Ohio Walmart, injuring four people — a Caucasian female, two African American females and a Caucasian male — before taking his own life.
—Liza Esquibias, Peoplemag, 25 Nov. 2023
The Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East has sparked concerns about religious discrimination in the U.S., creating new fissures in a divided American electorate that could help shape next year’s presidential election.
—Tarini Parti, WSJ, 25 Nov. 2023
On average, American parents experience less conflict with their secondborn than with their first.
—Sarah Sloat, The Atlantic, 14 Nov. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'American.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing American
Articles Related to American
Dictionary Entries Near American
Cite this Entry
“American.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/American. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
American
1 of 2 noun
Amer·i·can
ə-ˈmer-ə-kən
1
: a person born or living in North America or South America
especially
: a citizen of the U.S.
2
: the English language used in the U.S.
American
2 of 2 adjective1
: of or relating to North or South America or their residents
American coastline
2
: of or relating to the U.S. or its citizens
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