1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of France, its people, or their language
2
: of or relating to the overseas descendants of the French people
Frenchness noun

Examples of French 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.
Nearly 2,000 French firefighters are battling to contain a fast-moving blaze that has burnt through an area bigger than Paris and killed an elderly woman. Pierre Barin, CNN Money, 6 Aug. 2025 These include the iconic French fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent and American interior designer Bill Willis. Rebecca Ann Hughes, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025 Despite that history, RN has become the most active force in French crypto legislation, attracting industry advocates who see the party as business-friendly, Le Monde noted. Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 5 Aug. 2025 In a recent Instagram post, Stewart shared snaps of her large collection of indoor faux bois planters, which is French for false wood, and she’s known to have dozens of the faux wood planters outdoors on her Maine terrace, too. Maggie Horton, People.com, 5 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for French

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Old English frencisc, from Franca Frank

First Known Use

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

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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“French.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/French. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.

Kids Definition

French

1 of 2 adjective
: of or relating to France, its people, or their language

French

2 of 2 noun
1
: the Romance language of the French
2
French plural : the people of France

Medical Definition

French

noun
plural French
: a unit of measure equal to one-third millimeter used in measuring the outside diameter of a tubular instrument (as a catheter or sound) inserted into a bodily cavity
the catheter shaft size is three FrenchMedical Industry Today
abbreviation F
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