all-American

[awl-uh-mer-i-kuhn]

adjective

1. representing the entire United States.

2. composed exclusively of American members or elements.

3. selected as the best in the United States, as in a sport.

   the all-American college football team of 1983.

noun

1. an all-American player or performer.

all-American

adjective

1. representative of the whole of the United States

2. composed exclusively of American members

3. (of a person) typically American

   the company looks for all-American clean-cut college students

Word History and Origins

Origin of all-American¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

“We were all-American in terms of our values. We served happily in the military, and wanted to fight in the front lines. By today’s terms, we would be conservative.”

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The Bruins coach let the honorable mention All-American know that if he wanted to play in the NBA, his defense would have to improve and he’d be held accountable.

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This was a different approach than that of most coaches pursuing the honorable mention All-American from New Mexico.

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UCLA’s pick up of McDonald’s All-American Gabriela Jaquez, combined with national recruits, sets the stage for others to follow.

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USC’s successful recruitment of JuJu Watkins from Sierra Canyon was a huge turning point, leading to others becoming Trojans, such as All-American Kennedy Smith from Etiwanda.

Read more on Los Angeles Times