all-American

1 of 2

adjective

all-Amer·​i·​can ˌȯl-ə-ˈmer-ə-kən 

-ˈme-rə-

1

a

or less commonly all-America

ˌȯl-ə-ˈmer-ə-kə   

-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

2 of 2

noun

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 wholesome all-American

Examples of all-American in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Okorie earned all-ACC first-team honors and was an Associated Press all-American honorable mention. —Nathan Canilao, Mercury News, 9 Apr. 2026

The growing apathy toward big-screen entertainment was also owed to the patina of all-American wholesomeness that studios imposed on their stables of stars, and the nothing-to-see-here style of movie journalism was wearing thin. —Joshua John Miller, Vanity Fair, 9 Apr. 2026

Noun

Cassie is trying to become social-media famous, suggestively flashing her all-American assets online in a variety of fetishy costumes (a puppy dog, a pacifier-sucking baby). —Naomi Fry, New Yorker, 18 Apr. 2026

At a 1994 Baywatch cast party on the Malibu Pier in California, Anderson traded in her all-American girl casual vibe for an elegant black floor-length gown. —John Russell, PEOPLE, 17 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1888, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for all-American

• american

Kids Definition

all-American

adjective

all-Amer·​i·​can

ˌȯ-lə-ˈmer-ə-kən

1

: representing or typical of the U.S. or its ideals

an all-American boy

2

: selected as the best in the U.S.

the all-American football team

all-American noun