Amer·i·can
ə-ˈmer-ə-kən 
-ˈmər-
-ˈmər-
-ˈme-rə-
1
: an American Indian of North America or South America
2
: a native or inhabitant of North America or South America
3
: a native or inhabitant of the U.S. : a U.S. citizen
4
1
: of or relating to America
American people
2
: of or relating to the U.S. or its possessions or original territory
American soldiers
American embassies
American states
American culture
Examples of American in a Sentence
Noun
Americans in all 50 states.
The President's speech began with the words “My fellow Americans…”.
Recent Examples on the Web
Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024
Many business leaders have stepped up, participating in organizations like the Civic Alliance, a nonpartisan coalition of businesses that support fair and transparent elections, and using their influence to encourage every American to vote.
—Ian Simmons, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Erin Maglaque, The New York Review of Books, 15 Nov. 2024
Red Rock Resorts continues to focus on its Las Vegas operations, with no Native American management activity reported in the current or prior year periods.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
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Noun
Bollywood Dreams Come True In an Appealing Indian American Romcom
Reviewed at London Film Festival (Special Presentations), Oct. 15, 2024.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024
Many business leaders have stepped up, participating in organizations like the Civic Alliance, a nonpartisan coalition of businesses that support fair and transparent elections, and using their influence to encourage every American to vote.
—Ian Simmons, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Magda Teter Jewish Middlemen, Archival Myopia The story of two Jewish trading families during the last decades of the Regency of Algiers is skewed by being told through the perspectives of only European and American actors.
—Erin Maglaque, The New York Review of Books, 15 Nov. 2024
Red Rock Resorts continues to focus on its Las Vegas operations, with no Native American management activity reported in the current or prior year periods.
—Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for American
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Cite this Entry
“American.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/American. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
American
1 of 2 noun
Amer·i·can
ə-ˈmer-ə-kən
1
: a person born or living in North America or South America
especially
: a citizen of the U.S.
2
: the English language used in the U.S.
American
2 of 2 adjective1
: of or relating to North or South America or their residents
American coastline
2
: of or relating to the U.S. or its citizens
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