American

[ uh-mer-i-kuh n ]

/ əˈmɛr ɪ kən /

adjective

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.

noun

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.

Origin of American

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

Related formsA·mer·i·can·ly, adverbA·mer·i·can·ness, noun

Definition for american (2 of 2)

American, The

noun

a novel (1877) by Henry James.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for american

Fluoride first entered an American water supply through a rather inelegant technocratic scheme.
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
Have you looked around the American Dental Association website for an explanation of how fluoridation actually works?
Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers|Michael Schulson|July 27, 2016|DAILY BEAST
The best comparison here for an American audience is, well, Internet stuff.
Trolls and Martyrdom: Je Ne Suis Pas Charlie|Arthur Chu|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Current and former intelligence officials have said North Korea has long been a priority target for American spies.
Was Sony Hit With a Second Hack?|Shane Harris|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST

Great American leaders have long contributed profound thoughts of tremendous consequence to the public discourse.
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Probably not one of those tribesmen has ever set foot on the American continent, let alone in Chicago.
The Cruise of the O Moo|Roy J. Snell
The American boys were tense and strained, knowing that in a few hours they would be facing death.
People of Destiny|Philip Gibbs
Magnetically drawn to this great American, I visited him again and again.
Autobiography of a YOGI|Paramhansa Yogananda
The supplies from America have been divided with the conscientious desire to see American generosity help as far as could be.
War Days in Brittany|Elsie Deming Jarves
They were to fly the American flag; that, too, should mean a subsidy.
The President|Alfred Henry Lewis

British Dictionary definitions for american

American

/ (əˈmɛrɪkən) /

adjective

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

of or relating to the American continent

noun

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

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.).

American

adjective

noun

RELATED CONTENT

Origin of American

Definition for american (2 of 2)

American, The

noun

Examples from the Web for american

British Dictionary definitions for american

American

adjective

noun

Word Origin and History for american

American