African

American  

[af-ri-kuhn] / ˈæf rɪ kən /

adjective

1. of or from Africa; belonging to the Black peoples of Africa.

---

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Africa.

2. (loosely) a Black person or other person of African ancestry.

African British  

/ ˈæfrɪkən /

adjective

1. denoting or relating to Africa or any of its peoples, languages, nations, etc

---

noun

1. a native, inhabitant, or citizen of any of the countries of Africa

2. a member or descendant of any of the peoples of Africa, esp a Black person

Other Word Forms

• Africanness
  noun
• inter-African
  adjective
• non-African
  adjective
• proAfrican
  adjective
• pseudo-African
  adjective
• trans-African
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of African

First recorded before 1000 for noun, 1540–60 for adjective; Middle English noun Affrican, Aufrican “an inhabitant of North Africa or the Roman province of Africa (approximately modern Tunisia),” Old English noun Africanas “Africans” (accusative plural), from Late Latin Āfricānus “an inhabitant of Africa,” from Latin adjective Āfricānus “pertaining to Africa, African,” from Āfrica (short for terra Āfrica “African land”) “the continent of Africa, the Roman province of Africa,” a derivative of Āfrī, plural of adjective and noun Āfer ( Āfra, Āfrum ) “pertaining to Africa, African,” as a noun “an inhabitant of North Africa”; further etymology uncertain; possibly akin to Phoenician ʾafar “dust”; possibly the name of a local Libyan tribe ancestral to the Berbers

Compare meaning

How does african compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• African vs. Indian elephant

Example Sentences

NAIROBI—A Kenyan high court put a temporary hold on the Trump administration’s plan to set up an Ebola quarantine-and-treatment facility for Americans in the East African country.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 29, 2026

In the whole of the North African campaign, Krick was spot on.”

From Los Angeles Times • May 29, 2026

Native to temporary freshwater pools in the African savanna, these brightly colored fish have extremely short lifespans and develop many age-related problems rapidly, making them ideal for aging research.

From Science Daily • May 29, 2026

But the head of African Union's health agency said on Thursday that one should be ready by the end of the year.

From Barron's • May 28, 2026

Back then the same people we now call African American or Black were called Colored or Negro.

From "Reaching for the Moon" by Katherine Johnson