Italian

1 of 2

noun

Ital·​ian ə-ˈtal-yən 

i-

also

ˌī- 

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

Examples of Italian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Apart from acting, Pastore launched his own line of pasta sauce, Vincent Pastore's Italian Sauce, in 2019. — Sophie Dodd, PEOPLE, 10 June 2026

Throughout his career as an Italian Air Force Pilot, Parmitano has banked over 2,000 hours flying time across over 40 types of aircraft. — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 9 June 2026

Adjective

Gianni was joined by former players, including World Cup winner Marco Materazzi and other Italian legends such as Roberto Baggio and Christian Vieri, to celebrate the exhibit. — Luis Miguel Echegaray, CBS News, 23 June 2026

The Italian watch and jewelry maker Damiani, founded in 1924, will also be at the show for the very first time. — Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 23 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Italian

• anti-Italian
• Italian American
• Italian dressing
• Italian greyhound
• Italian parsley
• Italian sandwich
• Italian sonnet
• Upper Italian

Rhymes for Italian

• battalion
• medallion
• scallion
• stallion

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