Australian

American  

[aw-streyl-yuhn] / ɔˈstreɪl yən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Australia, its inhabitants, or their languages.

2. Zoogeography. belonging to a geographical division comprising Australia, New Zealand, Tasmania, Sulawesi, the Moluccas, Papua New Guinea, and adjacent smaller islands.

3. Phytogeography. belonging or pertaining to a geographical division comprising Australia and Tasmania.

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Australia.

2. an Aboriginal inhabitant of Australia.

3. Also called Australian Aboriginal languages.  the group of languages of the Aborigines of Australia, consisting of about three hundred languages. Austral, Austral.

Other Word Forms

• anti-Australian adjective
• pro-Australian adjective
• pseudo-Australian adjective
• trans-Australian adjective
• un-Australian adjective

Etymology

Origin of Australian

First recorded in 1690–70 Australian for def. 5; Australi(a) + -an

Example Sentences

Victims of a 2015 dam collapse in Brazil, for which Australian mining giant BHP has been found liable, attended a London hearing on Wednesday ahead of a trial to determine damages.

From Barron's

He subsequently withdrew from the Ultimate Tennis Showdown in December and did not travel to Melbourne for the Australian Open.

From BBC

SYDNEY—Australians are again bracing for rate pain, as an overheating economy forces the central bank to tighten the policy screws.

From The Wall Street Journal

A new processing plant for gallium, a key semiconductor material dominated by China, is expected to start up in Australia at the end of 2026, with backing from the Japanese, American and Australian governments.

From The Wall Street Journal

The most remarkable of the test cases seen in this very entertaining program are Australian shepherds and border collies, which are known for their intelligence.

From The Wall Street Journal