1
plural in construction
: a member of any of the indigenous and traditionally hunter-gatherer peoples of southern Africa who are considered the oldest inhabitants of the region
Note: The San are also referred to as Bushmen, a term that continues in widespread use but is sometimes considered offensive.
2
: the Khoisan languages spoken by the San people
Cite this Entry
“San.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/San. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
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