American
[uh-mer-i-kuh n]
- of or relating to the United States of America or its inhabitants: an American citizen.
- of or relating to North or South America; of the Western Hemisphere: the American continents.
- of or relating to the aboriginal Indians of North and South America, usually excluding the Eskimos, regarded as being of Asian ancestry and marked generally by reddish to brownish skin, black hair, dark eyes, and prominent cheekbones.
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- a citizen of the United States of America.
- a native or inhabitant of the Western Hemisphere.
- an Indian of North or South America.
- American English.
- a steam locomotive having a four-wheeled front truck, four driving wheels, and no rear truck.
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Origin of American
American, The
- a novel (1877) by Henry James.
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Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for american
Contemporary Examples
Fluoride first entered an American water supply through a rather inelegant technocratic scheme.
Have you looked around the American Dental Association website for an explanation of how fluoridation actually works?
The best comparison here for an American audience is, well, Internet stuff.
Current and former intelligence officials have said North Korea has long been a priority target for American spies.
Great American leaders have long contributed profound thoughts of tremendous consequence to the public discourse.
Historical Examples
In every American home that is a home, to-day, it demands attention.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
A courage, moreover —the gambler's courage—that is typically American.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
She wa'n't meant fur it—and I'd rather have her marry an American, anyhow.
The SpendersHarry Leon Wilson
They saw an American ship riding at anchor a mile or more from shore.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
There was no one in sight, but it was evident that a party from an American ship had visited the island.
Brave and BoldHoratio Alger
American
- of or relating to the United States of America, its inhabitants, or their form of English
- of or relating to the American continent
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- a native or citizen of the US
- a native or inhabitant of any country of North, Central, or South America
- the English language as spoken or written in the United States
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for american
American
1570s (n.); 1590s (adj.), from Modern Latin Americanus, from America (q.v.); originally in reference to what now are called Native Americans; the sense of "resident of North America of European (originally British) descent" is first recorded 1640s (adj.); 1765 (n.).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper