noun
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the official language of Italy and one of the official languages of Switzerland: the native language of approximately 60 million people. It belongs to the Romance group of the Indo-European family, and there is a considerable diversity of dialects
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a native, citizen, or inhabitant of Italy, or a descendant of one
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See Italian vermouth
adjective
Pronunciation
The pronunciation of Italian with an initial sound (pronounced like the word eye ) and often with level stress on the first and second syllables: is heard primarily from uneducated speakers. This pronunciation is sometimes facetious or disparaging in purpose and is usually considered offensive.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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Italianesqueadjective
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anti-Italianadjective
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half-Italianadjective
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non-Italianadjective
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pro-Italianadjective
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pseudo-Italianadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of Italian
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Medieval Latin word Italiānus. See Italy, -an
Compare meaning
How does italian compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Blackstone worked with Morrison to formulate a plan for Jersey Mike’s to offer its first hot Italian sub, which has been a hit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
Improvement at troubled Italian fashion house Gucci helped sales at Kering edge high in the second quarter, the French luxury group said Tuesday.
From Barron's ● Jul. 28, 2026
The Italian football community has been undergoing much soul-searching after the team failed to qualify for a third World Cup earlier this year.
From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026
His cherry-red Jaguar, Italian suits, designer eyewear and seaside mansion made Reilly an influencer before there even was such a thing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 26, 2026
He also recalled the many inventions and labor-saving gadgets, some designed by Jefferson, that filled the redbrick house modeled on the classical designs of Andrea Palladio, a renowned Italian architect.
From "In the Shadow of Liberty" by Kenneth C. Davis
Giorgia Meloni described the narrow defeat in the chamber of deputies as a "missed opportunity for Italians"
From BBC ● Jul. 15, 2026
Older Italians will never forget Marco Tardelli sealing Italy’s triumph in 1982 with a wild goal celebration.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
The World Cup used to define childhood summers for generations of Italians.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 4, 2026
Italians have been experiencing high temperatures since the start of this week - but the peak of the heat is expected for Monday, when 40C are expected in various northern regions.
From BBC ● Jun. 25, 2026
“The Italians put it under the arm,” I said.
From "A Farewell To Arms" by Ernest Hemingway
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.
