Italian

1 of 2

noun

Ital·​ian ə-ˈtal-yən 

i-,

also

ˌī- 

1

a

: a native or inhabitant of Italy

b

: a person of Italian descent

2

: the Romance language of the Italians

Italian

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Italy, the Italians, or Italian

Examples of Italian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The region is also increasingly recognized for experimentation, with Italian, Rhône, Spanish, and even Portuguese varietals finding success in this climate. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 30 July 2025

Despite being outnumbered fifty-to-one by the Five Families of the Italian Mafia, the Westies’ legendary brutality and cunning have given them the leverage necessary to share the spoils through a fragile détente. —Joe Otterson, Variety, 30 July 2025

Adjective

Now, the space is split into a nightclub and Italian American eatery for guets to load up on chicken parm and penne alla vodka before dancing the night away. —Melissa Kravitz Hoeffner, Forbes.com, 13 Aug. 2025

One night during the tournament, the team, coaches and families piled into a separate dining room of a large, Italian restaurant. —Paul Dickson, Baltimore Sun, 12 Aug. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Italian

• anti-Italian
• Italian American
• Italian dressing
• Italian greyhound
• Italian parsley
• Italian sandwich
• Italian sonnet
• Upper Italian

Rhymes for Italian

• battalion
• medallion
• scallion
• stallion

Kids Definition

Italian

noun

Ital·​ian

ə-ˈtal-yən,

i-

1

a

: a person born or living in Italy

b

: a person of Italian ancestry

2

: the Romance language of the Italians

Italian adjective