Italian

1 of 2

noun

Ital·​ian ə-ˈtal-yən How to pronounce Italian (audio)
i-,
also
ˌī- How to pronounce Italian (audio)
1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Italy
b
: a person of Italian descent
2
: the Romance language of the Italians

Italian

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Italy, the Italians, or Italian

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web
Adjective
Both characters take turns—separately and together—re-creating iconic musical numbers originally performed by famous Italian singers Raffaella Carrà and Patty Pravo. Bianca Betancourt, Harper's BAZAAR, 18 May 2023 Many fashion devotees consider ’90s Italian fashion a formative style influence. Halie Lesavage, harpersbazaar.com, 18 May 2023 Il Piatto Owner Hakan Ilhan followed fancy French with casual Italian last year on the site of the former Mirabelle near the White House. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 17 May 2023 This thinking led to the tea room’s most stunning addition — an alfresco pavilion looking out onto the lush Shakespeare Garden and featuring a 17th century Italian fountain that had been discovered in storage on the grounds. Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, 17 May 2023 As much as 20 inches of rain Reuters reported that some areas have received as much as 20 inches of rain in 36 hours, about half the average annual amount, according to Nello Musumeci, the Italian civil protection minister. Camille Fine, USA TODAY, 17 May 2023 With subtle color and a nod to Italian terrazzo tiles, this chic playroom rug goes well with home decor while remaining whimsical enough for child play. Jessie Quinn, Peoplemag, 17 May 2023 In 2021, Italian director Luca Guadagnino shot a commercial, starring Josh O’Connor, featuring the Aston Martin DBX, the brand’s first SUV. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 16 May 2023 Leo, a New Jersey Roman Catholic and grandson of an Italian immigrant who worked for Brooks Brothers, hobnobs around the upper echelons of American power in natty suits with vests and a pocket watch on a gold chain. Nina Burleigh, The New Republic, 16 May 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Italian.' 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 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

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

Dictionary Entries Near Italian

Cite this Entry

“Italian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Italian. Accessed 1 Jun. 2023.

Kids Definition

Italian

noun
Ital·​ian
ə-ˈtal-yən,
i-
1
a
: a person born or living in Italy
b
: a person of Italian ancestry
2
: the Romance language of the Italians
Italian adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on Italian

Last Updated: - Definition revised
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