Russian

noun

Rus·​sian ˈrə-shən How to pronounce Russian (audio)
1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Russia
b
: a member of the dominant Slavic-speaking ethnic group of Russia
c
: a person of Russian descent
2
: a Slavic language of the Russian people spoken as a second language by many non-Russian ethnic groups of the Soviet Union and its successor states
Russian adjective
Russianness noun

Examples of Russian 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.
The world is partly complicit in Russian crimes and some countries should be put on trial together with the Russian Federation. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 June 2025 Firefighters reported a rescue underway in the 1000 block of Green Street near Russian Hill at 5:13 p.m. Saturday, June 28, on X, formerly known as Twitter. Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 29 June 2025 From a Mendocino County winery producing in the northwest California Mayacamas Mountains, this is almost costal, almost Russian River adjacent. Lana Bortolot, Forbes.com, 29 June 2025 Lunsford noted that a particularly large meteor that some scientists believe to be associated with the annual shower detonated in a powerful airburst 6 miles (9.6 kilometers) over Russian Siberia in June 1908. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 27 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for Russian

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of Russian was in 1538

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Cite this Entry

“Russian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Russian. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

Russian

noun
Rus·​sian ˈrəsh-ən How to pronounce Russian (audio)
1
: a person born or living in Russia
2
: a Slavic language of the Russian people
Russian adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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