german

[ jur-muhn ]

/ ˈdʒɜr mən /

Save This Word!

adjective

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.

QUIZ

ARE YOU A TRUE BLUE CHAMPION OF THESE "BLUE" SYNONYMS?

We could talk until we're blue in the face about this quiz on words for the color "blue," but we think you should take the quiz and find out if you're a whiz at these colorful terms.

Question 1 of 8

Which of the following words describes “sky blue”?

navy

beryl

azure

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of german

1250–1300; Middle English germain<Old French <Latin germānus, derivative of germen;see germ

Words nearby german

Géricault, Gerlachovka, germ, Germain, Germaine, german, German Africa, German Baptist Brethren, German cockroach, German Democratic Republic, germander

Other definitions for german (2 of 2)

German

[ jur-muhn ]

/ ˈdʒɜr mən /

adjective

of or relating to Germany, its inhabitants, or their language.

noun

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. Abbreviation: 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)New England and South Atlantic States. a dancing party featuring the german.

Origin of German

1520–30; <Latin GermānusGerman; cognate with Greek Germanoí (plural)

OTHER WORDS FROM German

anti-German, noun, adjectivehalf-German, adjectivenon-German, adjective, nounpre-German, adjective, noun

pro-German, adjective, nounpseudo-German, adjective, nounquasi-German, adjectiveun-German, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use german in a sentence

The first viable, non-toxic chemically derived sugar substitute was discovered in the late 18th century by a German chemist.
Has a startup finally found one of food science’s holy grails with its healthy sugar substitute?|Jonathan Shieber|February 26, 2021|TechCrunch
It was 19th century German astronomer Samuel Heinrich Schwabe who realized that such solar activity ebbs and flows during 11-year cycles.
Solar storms can wreak havoc. We need better space weather forecasts|Ramin Skibba|February 26, 2021|Science News
The German group then plans to react hydrogen with carbon dioxide captured from the cement plant to produce both methanol, a chemical feedstock, and synthetic jet fuel.
Cheap renewables could make green hydrogen a practical replacement for fossil fuels|Katie McLean|February 24, 2021|MIT Technology Review
The German auto giant also agreed to set up a joint venture with the company to mass-produce the batteries and says they’ll be in its electric cars and trucks on the road by 2025.
Novel lithium-metal batteries will drive the switch to electric cars|Katie McLean|February 24, 2021|MIT Technology Review

The German team had perhaps the toughest experimental recipe.
Scientists Communicated With People While They Were Lucid Dreaming|Shelly Fan|February 22, 2021|Singularity Hub
An additional 12,000 took to the streets in other German towns.
Europe’s Islam Haters Say We Told You So|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But few of us would recognize the name of Dietrich von Hildebrand, a German philosopher-turned-outspoken Nazi antagonist.
The Catholic Philosopher Who Took on Hitler|John Henry Crosby|December 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the video, the bus is getting searched by a cop with a German shepherd.
Alleged Cop Killer Ismaaiyl Brinsley Had a Death Wish|M.L. Nestel|December 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Many more German divisions would enter the fray over the next few days.
Hitler’s Hail Mary|James A. Warren|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the event, the enemy did plenty—far more than SHAEF, or for that matter the German high command, imagined possible.
Hitler’s Hail Mary|James A. Warren|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He was a bookseller, but better known as a translator of the German contributor to the Gentleman's Magazine, &c.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
It is, however, true, that in this respect the German hexametrist has a considerable advantage over the English.
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 60, No. 372, October 1846|Various
To talk German was beyond the sweep of my dizziest ambition, but an Italian runner or porter instantly presented himself.
Glances at Europe|Horace Greeley
Gottfried Achenwall, an eminent German lecturer on statistics, history and the laws of nature, died at Gttingen.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
The governess is Swiss and for one week she talks nothing but French and for another nothing but German.
The Salvaging Of Civilisation|H. G. (Herbert George) Wells

British Dictionary definitions for german (1 of 3)

german¹

/ (ˈdʒɜːmən) /

noun

US a dance consisting of complicated figures and changes of partners

Word Origin for german

C19: shortened from German cotillion

British Dictionary definitions for german (2 of 3)

german²

/ (ˈdʒɜːmən) /

adjective

(used in combination)

having the same parents as oneselfa brother-german
having a parent that is a brother or sister of either of one's own parentscousin-german

a less common word for germane

Word Origin for german

C14: via Old French germain, from Latin germānus of the same race, from germen sprout, offshoot

British Dictionary definitions for german (3 of 3)

German

/ (ˈdʒɜːmən) /

noun

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 BibleSee also High German, Low German

a native, inhabitant, or citizen of Germany

a person whose native language is GermanSwiss Germans; Volga Germans

adjective

denoting, relating to, or using the German language

relating to, denoting, or characteristic of any German state or its people

Other words from German

Related prefixes: Germano-, Teuto-

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