Russian

noun

Rus·​sian ˈrə-shən 

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

ˈrə-shən-nəs 

noun

Examples of Russian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

There’s also the Queen Mary's Russian Sapphire Cluster Brooch, which originally belonged to Maria Feodorovna (mother of Tsar Nicholas II), per The Court Jeweller. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 19 June 2026

The barrage was part of a larger Ukrainian attack over a broad swath of Russia, with air defenses intercepting 555 drones, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense – including over the Sea of Azov. — Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 18 June 2026

The war in Ukraine, which not long ago seemed to be turning in favor of Vladimir Putin’s invading Russian Army, appears to have undergone another reversal. — Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 18 June 2026

According to Russian and Western sources, the new weapon, known in Russian as Burevestnik and by NATO as Skyfall, was powered by a small nuclear reactor. — Geoff Brumfiel, NPR, 18 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing Russian

• anti-Russian
• Great Russian
• non-Russian
• Russian blue
• Russian dressing
• Russian olive
• Russian roulette
• Russian sage
• Russian thistle
• Russian wolfhound
• White Russian

Rhymes for Russian

• belorussian
• repercussion
• byelorussian
• concussion
• discussion
• percussion

Kids Definition

Russian

noun

Rus·​sian ˈrəsh-ən 

1

: a person born or living in Russia

2

: a Slavic language of the Russian people

Russian adjective