1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Russia
b
: a member of the dominant Slavic-speaking ethnic group of Russia
c
: a person of Russian descent
2
: a Slavic language of the Russian people spoken as a second language by many non-Russian ethnic groups of the Soviet Union and its successor states
Russian
adjective
Examples of Russian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
With notes of apple, gingersnaps and lemon meringue flavor of J Vineyards Cuvée 20 ($40) sparkling wine from Russian River Valley blends deliciously with this spicy dish.
—
Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
In excerpts from the journal, written using the Russian Cyrillic alphabet for English words, the suspect described her fascination with violence and obsession with mass shootings, particularly those that attacked schools.
—Marc Santia, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025
Joint air and sea patrols have occurred off Alaska since 2023, including a joint patrol of four China Coast Guard vessels and two Russian Border Guard vessels patrolling in the Bering Sea near the US-Russia maritime border last year, according to a US Coast Guard release.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Madeira House, an 11-room boutique hotel in west Sonoma County, California, opened this summer with sweeping views of the Russian River Valley and rugged coastal bluffs.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Russian
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Carole Kotkin, Miami Herald, 29 Aug. 2025
In excerpts from the journal, written using the Russian Cyrillic alphabet for English words, the suspect described her fascination with violence and obsession with mass shootings, particularly those that attacked schools.
—Marc Santia, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025
Joint air and sea patrols have occurred off Alaska since 2023, including a joint patrol of four China Coast Guard vessels and two Russian Border Guard vessels patrolling in the Bering Sea near the US-Russia maritime border last year, according to a US Coast Guard release.
—Brad Lendon, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2025
Madeira House, an 11-room boutique hotel in west Sonoma County, California, opened this summer with sweeping views of the Russian River Valley and rugged coastal bluffs.
—Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 28 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for Russian
Cite this Entry
“Russian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Russian. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Russian
noun
Rus·sian
ˈrəsh-ən 
1
: a person born or living in Russia
2
: a Slavic language of the Russian people
Russian
adjective
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