germanic
adjective
of or containing germanium, especially in the tetravalent state.
germanic
1 American
[jer-man-ik, -may-nik]
/ dʒərˈmæn ɪk, -ˈmeɪ nɪk /
adjective
Chemistry.
Germanic
2
American
[jer-man-ik]
/ dʒərˈmæn ɪk /
adjective
-
of or relating to the Teutons or their languages.
-
of, relating to, or noting the Germanic branch of languages.
noun
-
a branch of the Indo-European family of languages including German, Dutch, English, the Scandinavian languages, Afrikaans, Flemish, Frisian, and the extinct Gothic language. Gmc, Gmc.
-
an ancient Indo-European language, the immediate linguistic ancestor of the Germanic languages. Gmc, Gmc.
Germanic
1
British
/ dʒɜːˈmænɪk /
noun
-
Gmc. a branch of the Indo-European family of languages that includes English, Dutch, German, the Scandinavian languages, and Gothic See East Germanic West Germanic North Germanic
-
the unrecorded language from which all of these languages developed; Proto-Germanic
adjective
-
of, denoting, or relating to this group of languages
-
of, relating to, or characteristic of Germany, the German language, or any people that speaks a Germanic language
germanic
2
British
/ dʒɜːˈmænɪk /
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of germanic1
First recorded in 1885–90; german(ium) + -ic
Origin of Germanic2
First recorded in 1625–35; from Latin Germānicus “pertaining to Germany or the Germans”; see origin at German, -ic
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:
He had been very lucky with his fishing, having caught several germanic, weighing from twenty to forty pounds apiece, and an abundance of other fish.
From The Cruise of the 'Alerte' The narrative of a search for treasure on the desert island of Trinidad by E. F. (Edward Frederick) Knight
It looks a little as if the ancient english empirism, so long put out of fashion here by nobler sounding germanic formulas, might be repluming itself and getting ready for a stronger flight than ever.
From A Pluralistic Universe Hibbert Lectures at Manchester College on the Present Situation in Philosophy by William James
I caught a whole germanic diet of these creatures from the fragrant flower-cups, and imprisoned them in the box.
From The Campaner Thal and Other Writings by Jean Paul
Mr. Sinner is the “cool northern Italian redhead with the Germanic roots and the most punishing of ground strokes.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026
"It's a remarkable mixture - a vessel from the southern, classical world containing the remains of a very northern, very Germanic cremation," she said.
From BBC ● May 20, 2025
“I have joked — and it’s not a bad comp — that we’re reaching for Merchant/Ivory doing Hammer Horror,” says Eggers, who staged a version of the Germanic “Dracula” doppelgänger in high school.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 3, 2024
Similarly, during the Middle Ages, Celts and Germanic tribespeople wore baggy undershorts called braies.
From National Geographic ● Jan. 9, 2024
In particular, Frisian, the other Germanic language most closely related to English, is confined to a tiny coastal area of Holland and western Germany.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
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