Russian
Americanadjective
noun
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a native or inhabitant of Russia.
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a member of a Slavic people, the dominant ethnic group in the Russian Federation, whose historical homeland lies along the upper Volga and Oka rivers and adjacent areas.
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the Slavic language of this people, written in the Cyrillic alphabet: the official language of Russia or the Russian Federation. Russ, Russ.
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Informal. Russian dressing.
noun
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the official language of Russia: an Indo-European language belonging to the East Slavonic branch
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the official language of the former Soviet Union
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a native or inhabitant of Russia
adjective
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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anti-Russianadjective
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half-Russianadjective
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non-Russianadjective
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pro-Russianadjective
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pseudo-Russianadjective
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semi-Russianadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of Russian
First recorded in 1530–40; from Medieval Latin Russiānus, derivative of Russia, Latinization of Old East Slavic Rusĭ; see origin at Russ, Russia, -an
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
That effort led to mixed results, though, as Russian crude exports held steady.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026
There is no sign that Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian cities have given Putin pause for thought.
From BBC • Jun. 20, 2026
Vladimir Kucherenko, a Russian nationalist YouTuber who uses the pseudonym Maxim Kalashnikov, wrote on social media Thursday that Moscow police had summoned him for questioning after he posted a video of the initial refinery attack.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 20, 2026
The news bulletins on Russian TV channels barely mentioned it.
From BBC • Jun. 20, 2026
As they exchanged a few pleasantries in Russian, sounding like acquaintances but not close friends, he handed her an envelope.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
