: not American : not characteristic of or consistent with American customs, principles, or traditions

Examples of un-American in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Ultimately, Goldsmith said that rally further smeared public perception of the white nationalist movement as violent and un-American — lessons that Rousseau took to heart. Odette Yousef, NPR, 11 July 2026 This series may seem like an odd choice to recommend during the July 4 holiday, particularly when the main characters are driven by values that are pointedly un-American. Maira Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026 In this un-American endeavor, the Court’s conservative majority is proving itself, once again, Trump’s willing accomplice. Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 26 June 2026 The whole process is downright un-American. Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 15 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for un-American

Word History

First Known Use

1818, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of un-American was in 1818

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Cite this Entry

“Un-American.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/un-American. Accessed 21 Jul. 2026.

Kids Definition

un-American

adjective
un-Amer·​i·​can
ˌən-ə-ˈmer-ə-kən
: not American
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