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all-American

adjective
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all-Amer·​i·​can | \ ˌȯl-ə-ˈmer-ə-kən How to pronounce all-American (audio) , -ˈme-rə- \

Definition of all-American

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1a or less commonly all-America \ ˌȯl-​ə-​ˈmer-​ə-​kə How to pronounce all-American (audio) , -​ˈme-​rə-​ \ : selected (as by a poll of journalists) as one of the best in the U.S. in a particular category at a particular time an all-American quarterback
b : having only all-American participants an all-American basketball team
2 : composed wholly of American elements
3 : representative or typical of the U.S. or its ideals an all-American boy her all-American optimism
4 : of or relating to the American nations as a group

all-American

noun

Definition of all-American (Entry 2 of 2)

1 or less commonly all-America : one (such as an athlete) that is voted all-American
2 : one that has all-American qualities or characteristics a clean-cut all-American

First Known Use of all-American

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Time Traveler for all-American

Time Traveler

The first known use of all-American was in 1887

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Dictionary Entries Near all-American

alla marcia

all-American

All-American Canal

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Statistics for all-American

Cite this Entry

“All-American.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/all-American. Accessed 29 Jun. 2022.

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