Ethiopian

1 of 2

noun

Ethi·​o·​pi·​an ˌē-thē-ˈō-pē-ən How to pronounce Ethiopian (audio)
1
: a native or inhabitant of Ethiopia
2
: a member of any of the mythical or actual peoples usually described by the ancient Greeks as dark-skinned and living far to the south
3
archaic : a Black person

Ethiopian

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of the inhabitants or the country of Ethiopia
2
: of, relating to, or being the biogeographic region that includes Africa south of the Sahara, southern Arabia, and sometimes Madagascar and the adjacent islands

Examples of Ethiopian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
The immigrant population in Saudi Arabia is often forced into modern-day slavery, and recently there have been reports of mass killings of hundreds of Ethiopian migrants by Saudi forces. Bernie Sanders, Foreign Affairs, 18 Mar. 2024 One of the main ingredients used in Ethiopian food is a fragrant red spice called berbere which consists of chili, ginger, fenugreek, coriander, and cinnamon. Belle Bakst, Allure, 12 Mar. 2024 The March 10 anniversary is a difficult one for the families of the 157 people on board the Ethiopian jet, because concerns over Boeing’s safety and quality have been in the news so much in the last two months. Chris Isidore, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 Born in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on May 4, 1981, Negga started out in the theater before making her screen debut in the 2004 Irish film Capital Letters. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 8 Mar. 2024 For many years, Ethiopian heritage authorities have been calling for the restitution of a sprawling collection of royal, religious and military artifacts looted during the battle. Catherine Duncan, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Mar. 2024 Be sure to stop by the Ethiopian grocery store behind el Joven, which serves fresh Ethiopian breads, including injera. The Enquirer, 6 Mar. 2024 At least 20 new restaurants opened around the Sacramento region in February, from a groundbreaking Ethiopian eatery to a celebrity pizza-maker’s suburban slice shop. Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 1 Mar. 2024 In 2022, they were named among the 100 best in the country for their unique Ethiopian offerings. Dina Kaur, The Arizona Republic, 22 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Ethiopian.' 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

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Ethiopian was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near Ethiopian

Cite this Entry

“Ethiopian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ethiopian. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

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