Afghan

[af-gan, -guhn]

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Afghanistan.

2. afghan, a soft woolen blanket, crocheted or knitted, usually in a geometric pattern.

3. Also called Afghan hound. one of a breed of swift hunting hounds having a long, narrow head and a long, silky coat.

4. Literary.,  Pashto.

adjective

1. of Afghanistan or its people or language.

Afghan

¹

/ -ɡən, æfˈɡænɪ, ˈæfɡæn, -ˈɡɑː- /

noun

1. a native, citizen, or inhabitant of Afghanistan

2. another name for Pashto

3. history an Indian camel driver employed in the outback of Australia

adjective

1. denoting or relating to Afghanistan, its people, or their language

afghan

²

/ -ɡən, ˈæfɡæn /

noun

1. a knitted or crocheted wool blanket or shawl, esp one with a geometric pattern

2. a sheepskin coat, often embroidered and having long fur trimming around the edges

Usage

See afghani.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Afghan¹

First recorded in 1740–50; from Persian afghān “inhabitant of the Hindu Kush; a Pathan“

Word History and Origins

Origin of Afghan¹

from _Afghanistan

Example Sentences

He served in one of Afghanistan’s elite counterterrorism units operated by the CIA, according to AfghanEvac, a nonprofit organization that resettles Afghan nationals.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In 2021, it became the first African country to accept Afghan refugees evacuated after the Taliban ousted the Kabul government.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Officials said that before coming to the United States, Lakanwal had served in a CIA-backed Afghan "partner force" unit fighting the Taliban.

Read more on Barron's

The scheme was launched in August 2021 under the Biden administration to resettle "vulnerable" Afghans after the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan in the same year.

Read more on BBC

Afghans living in the US have condemned Wednesday's "deeply tragic" deadly shooting attack in Washington DC, while stressing that the suspect - who moved to the US from Afghanistan four years ago - does not represent them.

Read more on BBC