1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Germany
b
: a person of German descent
c
: one whose native language is German and who is a native of a country other than Germany
2
a
: the Germanic language spoken mainly in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland
b
: the literary and official language of Germany
3
: a member of any of the Germanic peoples inhabiting western Europe in Roman times
4
often not capitalized
a
: a dance consisting of intricate figures that are improvised and intermingled with waltzes
b
chiefly Midland US
: a dancing party
specifically
: one at which the german is danced
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Germany, the Germans, or German
ger·man
ˈjər-mən 
: having the same parents or the same grandparents on either the maternal or paternal side
—usually used after the noun which it modifies and joined to it by a hyphen
brother-german
cousin-german
obsolete
: a near relative
Examples of German in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025
For now, this region of Germany remains a hidden gem known mostly to Germans.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025
For now, this region of Germany remains a hidden gem known mostly to Germans.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for German
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Noun
The German arrived with a good knowledge of all the club’s young players and had asked for references on all of them.
—Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025
For now, this region of Germany remains a hidden gem known mostly to Germans.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
Noun
The German arrived with a good knowledge of all the club’s young players and had asked for references on all of them.
—Laia Cervelló Herrero, New York Times, 12 Aug. 2025
For now, this region of Germany remains a hidden gem known mostly to Germans.
—Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 11 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for German
Cite this Entry
“German.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/German. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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