American

American  

[uh-mer-i-kuhn] / əˈmɛr ɪ kən /

adjective

1. of or relating to the United States of America or its inhabitants.

   an American citizen.

2. of or relating to North or South America; of the Western Hemisphere.

   the American continents.

3. of or relating to the Indigenous peoples of North and South America.

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noun

1. a citizen of the United States of America.

2. a native or inhabitant of North or South America.

3. an Indigenous person of North or South America.

4. American English.

5. a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, four driving wheels, and no rear truck.

American British  

/ əˈmɛrɪkən /

adjective

1. of or relating to the United States of America, its inhabitants, or their form of English

2. of or relating to the American continent

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noun

1. a native or citizen of the US

2. a native or inhabitant of any country of North, Central, or South America

3. the English language as spoken or written in the United States

Other Word Forms

• Americanly adverb
• Americanness noun

Etymology

Origin of American

First recorded in 1570–80; Americ(a) + -an

Example Sentences

In Baghdad, hundreds of Iraqis, many dressed in black, attempted to storm the compound housing the American embassy on Sunday despite a heavy security deployment.

From Barron's

Since early January, it has won top prizes from American film critics and Hollywood directors, and received the Golden Globe for best comedy.

From Barron's

Adopt and adapt, just like Americans have always done when new technologies were introduced.

From MarketWatch

The lovely, funny “American Classic,” premiering Sunday on MGM+, is a love letter to theater, community and community theater.

From Los Angeles Times

After years of progress, fewer pregnant Americans are getting prenatal care in the first weeks of pregnancy — or getting access to care at all.

From Salon