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
Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
The 29-year-old German has had a knack for scoring in overtime especially in these playoffs with Game 4’s goal being his fourth – the most OT goals in a single postseason in NHL history.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
Funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the funding code 16DHBKI051 helped to support part of the authors' research on AI literacy.
—Arne Bewersdorff, The Conversation, 12 June 2025
Friday’s pitching matchup Rockies RHP German Marquez (2-8, 7.00 ERA) at Braves RHP Bryce Elder (2-3, 4.08)
5:15 p.m. Friday, Truist Park
TV: Rockies.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for German
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Noun
Previously feigning ignorance about a potential departure, the German is now surplus to requirements under Hansi Flick with Garcia around.
—Tom Sanderson, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
The 29-year-old German has had a knack for scoring in overtime especially in these playoffs with Game 4’s goal being his fourth – the most OT goals in a single postseason in NHL history.
—Jacob Lev, CNN Money, 13 June 2025
Funding from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research under the funding code 16DHBKI051 helped to support part of the authors' research on AI literacy.
—Arne Bewersdorff, The Conversation, 12 June 2025
Friday’s pitching matchup Rockies RHP German Marquez (2-8, 7.00 ERA) at Braves RHP Bryce Elder (2-3, 4.08)
5:15 p.m. Friday, Truist Park
TV: Rockies.
—Patrick Saunders, Denver Post, 12 June 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 18 Jun. 2025.
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