American English
noun
: the English language as spoken in the U.S.
—used especially with the implication that it is clearly distinguishable from British English yet not so divergent as to be a separate language
Examples of American English in a Sentence
There are many differences between British English and American English.
Recent Examples on the Web
Those books introduced me to a vision of American teenage life and taught me the rhythms and idioms of American English, nuances that would later replace my Britishisms and shape my career as a journalist.
—
Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
The song is what Celentano thought American English sounded like and was inspired by the Tower of Babel story from the Bible.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2026
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.
Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 17 Feb. 2026
The song is what Celentano thought American English sounded like and was inspired by the Tower of Babel story from the Bible.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“American English.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/American%20English. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
