having the same father and mother, as a full brother or sister (usually used in combination).
a brother-german.
born of the brother or sister of one's father or mother, as a first cousin (usually used in combination).
a cousin-german.
Archaic. germane.
a native or inhabitant of Germany.
a descendant of a native of Germany.
Also called High German. an Indo-European language that is based on a High German dialect, is official in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and is also widely used as an international language for scholarship and science. G, G.
Linguistics. any variety of West Germanic speech native to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.
(usually lowercase) an elaborate social dance resembling a cotillion.
(lowercase) a dancing party featuring the german.
the official language of Germany and Austria and one of the official languages of Switzerland; the native language of approximately 100 million people. It is an Indo-European language belonging to the West Germanic branch, closely related to English and Dutch. There is considerable diversity of dialects; modern standard German is a development of Old High German, influenced by Martin Luther's translation of the Bible See also High German Low German
a native, inhabitant, or citizen of Germany
a person whose native language is German
Swiss Germans
Volga Germans
denoting, relating to, or using the German language
relating to, denoting, or characteristic of any German state or its people
having the same parents as oneself
a brother-german
having a parent that is a brother or sister of either of one's own parents
cousin-german
a less common word for germane
1250–1300; Middle English germain < Old French < Latin germānus, derivative of germen; see germ
1520–30; < Latin Germānus German; cognate with Greek Germanoí (plural)
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The Bidens had already said that Champ and Major, their two german shepherds, will be moving into the White House.
From Slate ● Nov. 29, 2020
She resembles a german shepherd but a little less heavy-set, and a lot more bouncy.
From The Guardian ● May 29, 2015
But there were many on Monday who dissented out of loyalty to the german shepherd or the cocker spaniel, and the measure barely passed.
From Time ● Feb. 24, 2015
Just imagine the same movie, but not with a US soldier in Iraq, but a german soldier in WW2.
From New York Times ● Feb. 23, 2015
I am his son, cousin german to Robert Devereaux, Earl of Essex.
From In Doublet and Hose A Story for Girls by De Land, Clyde Osmer
Find insight on Malaysia, German Bunds and more in the latest Market Talks covering Financial Services.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
Helmut Rauch, chief executive of the defense unit at Diehl Group, a German company making missiles and artillery shells, said that despite Europe’s recent increases in explosive production, the supply of RDX is a concern.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 28, 2026
The main suspect, Abdul Ballout, a 21-year-old German citizen with Lebanese heritage, was shot and killed by police on Sunday.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
It was through that circle that she met a ceramicist of German American descent by the name of Richard Saar.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 27, 2026
“No sheets here either, I see,” she said in German to the guard.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
President Woodrow Wilson was re-elected the year that pipe was laid, and the Germans attacked the French in the World War I Battle of Verdun, with the death toll topping 700,000.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026
The rearrangement allowed Shankly to recall Toshack, who had been left out of the initial match, and he and Keegan tormented the Germans in a 3-0 victory, Liverpool subsequently winning 3-2 on aggregate.
From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026
And as one saying had it: “Rational Germans rely on planning, spiritual Russians on avos’.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
And the recruitment difficulties are expected to worsen in Europe's largest economy as the population ages: over the next 10 years, around 13 million Germans will reach retirement age.
From Barron's ● Jun. 30, 2026
The Germans could wait until the key moment, then change their Enigma procedures.
From "The Bletchley Riddle" by Ruta Sepetys and Steve Sheinkin
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
