german
1 Americanadjective
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having the same father and mother, as a full brother or sister (usually used in combination).
a brother-german.
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born of the brother or sister of one's father or mother, as a first cousin (usually used in combination).
a cousin-german.
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Archaic. germane.
adjective
noun
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a native or inhabitant of Germany.
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a descendant of a native of Germany.
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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.
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Linguistics. any variety of West Germanic speech native to Germany, Austria, or Switzerland.
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(usually lowercase) an elaborate social dance resembling a cotillion.
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(lowercase) a dancing party featuring the german.
noun
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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
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a native, inhabitant, or citizen of Germany
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a person whose native language is German
Swiss Germans
Volga Germans
adjective
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denoting, relating to, or using the German language
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relating to, denoting, or characteristic of any German state or its people
adjective
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having the same parents as oneself
a brother-german
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having a parent that is a brother or sister of either of one's own parents
cousin-german
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a less common word for germane
noun
Other Word Forms
- anti-German noun
- half-German adjective
- non-German adjective
- pre-German adjective
- pro-German adjective
- pseudo-German adjective
- quasi-German adjective
- un-German adjective
Etymology
Origin of german1
1250–1300; Middle English germain < Old French < Latin germānus, derivative of germen; germ
Origin of German2
1520–30; < Latin Germānus German; cognate with Greek Germanoí (plural)
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.
"It's unpleasant and we don't like it, I'm the first one to admit I hate losing. That's just the reality of it and has not a lot to do with what will happen in June," the German said.
From BBC
In the end, Bogart’s character, Rick Blaine, has no choice but to give up his love, his past and his future to continue the fight against a German army hot in pursuit.
Sharaa met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Berlin on Monday, as he seeks to keep Syria insulated from the repercussions of the current Middle East war.
From Barron's
A woman has been bitten by a wolf in a major shopping street in Hamburg, according to German authorities.
From BBC
"There has not been a case like this since the reintroduction began in 1998," a spokeswoman for the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation told German press agency dpa.
From BBC
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.