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
Katja Hoyer, semafor.com, 19 July 2025
Since retiring after the 2022 season, the German has been out of the spotlight, working behind the scenes to create progress in causes such as women in motorsport and environmental challenges.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
Refugee women also face greater barriers because of lower education levels attained, and also tend to learn German slower than men (no doubt in part due to their often having to stay at home more).
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
The death of Lauren German's Leslie Shay in the season 2 finale cliffhanger and season 3 premiere served as the show's first devastating death and created a ripple effect that remains a part of the show (her name remains on Ambulance 61, for example).
—Breanne L. Heldman, People.com, 18 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for German
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Noun
In 2015, the writer Frank Witzel was awarded the German Book Prize for his 800-page novel, The Invention of the Red Army Faction by a Manic-Depressive Teenager in the Summer of 1969.
—Katja Hoyer, semafor.com, 19 July 2025
Since retiring after the 2022 season, the German has been out of the spotlight, working behind the scenes to create progress in causes such as women in motorsport and environmental challenges.
—Nelson Espinal, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 July 2025
Refugee women also face greater barriers because of lower education levels attained, and also tend to learn German slower than men (no doubt in part due to their often having to stay at home more).
—Frey Lindsay, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
The death of Lauren German's Leslie Shay in the season 2 finale cliffhanger and season 3 premiere served as the show's first devastating death and created a ripple effect that remains a part of the show (her name remains on Ambulance 61, for example).
—Breanne L. Heldman, People.com, 18 July 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 22 Jul. 2025.
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