Ethiopian

1 of 2

noun

Ethi·​o·​pi·​an ˌē-thē-ˈō-pē-ən 

1

: a native or inhabitant of Ethiopia

2

: a member of any of the mythical or actual peoples usually described by the ancient Greeks as dark-skinned and living far to the south

3

archaic : a Black person

Ethiopian

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the inhabitants or the country of Ethiopia

2

: of, relating to, or being the biogeographic region that includes Africa south of the Sahara, southern Arabia, and sometimes Madagascar and the adjacent islands

Examples of Ethiopian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Her parents are both Ethiopian immigrants who met in the US, her father becoming an accountant and her mother a teacher and real estate agent. —Chloe Schama, Vogue, 21 Aug. 2025

And Sean Roberson is a KFC operations leader and the founder of West Lou Coffee, a Louisville roastery known for its Ethiopian and Colombian blends. —Amanda Hancock, The Courier-Journal, 15 Aug. 2025

The new Dilla Ethiopian restaurant and sports bar also has been a draw further west on University Avenue, bringing a bit of a nightclub atmosphere when the sun goes down. —Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, 9 Aug. 2025

An Ethiopian restaurant where Taco Bell used to be. —Matthew Geiger, Denver Post, 7 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1557, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for Ethiopian

• bupropion
• dystopian
• fallopian
• utopian