German

1 of 4

noun (1)

Ger·​man ˈjər-mən 

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 german

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

German

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adjective (1)

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Germany, the Germans, or German

german

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adjective (2)

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

german

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noun (2)

obsolete

: a near relative

Examples of German in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Inter Miami forward German Berterame is conscious and recovering in hospital after suffering a head collision in Saturday’s MLS game against Montreal, his coach Guillermo Hoyos has said. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 26 July 2026

Miami’s German Berterame was hospitalized after landing on his head from an in-air collision and appearing to lose consciousness, but is said to now be stable and undergoing tests. — Greg Cote july 26, Miami Herald, 26 July 2026

Adjective

Meister Eckhardt was a German Catholic monk in the 11th century influenced by Pseudo-Dionysius. — Jon Raymond august 5, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025

According to the German site iPhone-Ticker, which got sight of internal documents from at least one local carrier, the iPhone 17 launch event will take place on September 9. — Prakhar Khanna, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English, from Medieval Latin Germanus, from Latin

Adjective (2)

Middle English germain, from Anglo-French, from Latin germanus having the same parents, from germen

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Adjective (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing German

• anti-German
• German cockroach
• German mark
• German measles
• German pinscher
• German shepherd
• German shorthaired pointer
• German silver
• German wirehaired pointer
• High German
• Low German
• Middle High German
• Middle Low German
• Old High German
• Pennsylvania German
• Upper German

Rhymes for German

• birman
• burman
• ermine
• firman
• kirman
• sermon
• spermine
• termen
• termine
• vermin
• determine
• predetermine

Kids Definition

German

noun

Ger·​man

ˈjər-mən

1

: a person born or living in Germany

2

: the Germanic language of Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland

German adjective