1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Germany
b
: a person of German descent
c
: one whose native language is German and who is a native of a country other than Germany
2
a
: the Germanic language spoken mainly in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland
b
: the literary and official language of Germany
3
: a member of any of the Germanic peoples inhabiting western Europe in Roman times
4
often not capitalized
a
: a dance consisting of intricate figures that are improvised and intermingled with waltzes
b
chiefly Midland US
: a dancing party
specifically
: one at which the german is danced
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Germany, the Germans, or German
ger·man
ˈjər-mən 
: having the same parents or the same grandparents on either the maternal or paternal side
—usually used after the noun which it modifies and joined to it by a hyphen
brother-german
cousin-german
obsolete
: a near relative
Examples of German in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 26 June 2025
Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States — a nonprofit organization focused on transatlantic affairs — agrees that this year's summit will be a test for the ruptured alliance.
—Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 23 June 2025
Tuesday at Coors Field: The Dodgers (TBD) vs. Colorado Rockies right-hander German Marquez (3-8, 6.11 ERA).
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 22 June 2025
And British mathematician Alan Turing cracked the German Enigma machine code, allowing the Allies to read the Wehrmacht’s operational plans.
—Carl Burdette, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for German
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Noun
Hollinger’s analysis: Nets fans get to see their guy play right away — Saraf is playing in the deciding game of the German League playoffs Thursday afternoon.
—Sam Vecenie, New York Times, 26 June 2025
Alexandra de Hoop Scheffer, president of the German Marshall Fund of the United States — a nonprofit organization focused on transatlantic affairs — agrees that this year's summit will be a test for the ruptured alliance.
—Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 23 June 2025
Tuesday at Coors Field: The Dodgers (TBD) vs. Colorado Rockies right-hander German Marquez (3-8, 6.11 ERA).
—Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 22 June 2025
And British mathematician Alan Turing cracked the German Enigma machine code, allowing the Allies to read the Wehrmacht’s operational plans.
—Carl Burdette, Baltimore Sun, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for German
Cite this Entry
“German.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/German. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
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