African

1 of 2

noun

Af·​ri·​can ˈa-fri-kən How to pronounce African (audio)
 also  ˈä-
1
: a native or inhabitant of Africa
2
: a person and especially a Black person of African ancestry

African

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the continent of Africa or its people
Africanness noun

Examples of African in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
The main body of the expedition, traveling on the South African Navy frigate Transvaal, reached the island on January 22, 1962. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 23 May 2025 Mandela, a world-famous political prisoner who became South Africa's first post-apartheid president in 1994, reportedly saw Ramaphosa as a successor and repeatedly pushed him to take on a leading role in the African National Congress (ANC). Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Adjective
Researchers have long questioned the purpose of the artifact, which depicts a North African hunting scene, complete with warriors, a range of weaponry, lions and a hunting dog. Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 24 May 2025 South African President Cyril Ramaphosa walked into a buzzsaw of criticism in the White House. Paul Bedard, The Washington Examiner, 24 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for African

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English Aufrican, Affrican, going back to Old English Africanas (plural), borrowed from Latin Āfricānus african entry 2

Adjective

borrowed from Latin Āfricānus, from Āfrica (short for Āfrica terra, literally, "African land," from feminine of Āfricus "of the Roman province of Africa [present-day northern Tunisia], of the continent of Africa," from Āfr-, Āfer "of Africa, inhabitant of North Africa [other than Egypt]" —of unknown origin— + -icus -ic entry 1) + -ānus -an entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of African was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“African.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/African. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

African

noun
Af·​ri·​can
ˈaf-ri-kən
1
: a person born or living in Africa
2
: a person of African ancestry
African adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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