American

1 of 2

noun

Amer·​i·​can ə-ˈmer-ə-kən How to pronounce American (audio) -ˈmər- How to pronounce American (audio)
-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

American

2 of 2

adjective

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
Americanness
ə-ˈmer-ə-kə(n)-nəs How to pronounce American (audio)
-ˈmər-
-ˈme-rə-
noun

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
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

First Known Use

Noun

1568, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of American was in 1568

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.

Kids Definition

American

1 of 2 noun
Amer·​i·​can ə-ˈmer-ə-kən How to pronounce American (audio)
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 adjective
1
: of or relating to North or South America or their residents
American coastline
2
: of or relating to the U.S. or its citizens
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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