Khmer
Americannoun
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a member of a people in Cambodia whose ancestors established an empire about the 5th century a.d. and who reached their zenith during the 9th to the 12th centuries when they dominated most of Indochina.
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an Austroasiatic language that is the official language of Cambodia.
noun
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a member of a people of Cambodia, noted for a civilization that flourished from about 800 ad to about 1370, remarkable for its architecture
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the language of this people, belonging to the Mon-Khmer family: the official language of Cambodia
adjective
Other Word Forms
- Khmerian adjective
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.
Before the scandal came to light, Latchford earned acclaim for books detailing the art of the ancient Khmer Empire, which spanned modern-day Cambodia and much else of Southeast Asia.
From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026
During a sabbatical, she covered the Khmer Rouge trials from Cambodia.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 1, 2026
Khmer classical dance, performed to traditional music, is renowned for its graceful hand gestures and stunning costumes, and has a 1,000-year history.
From Barron's • Dec. 31, 2025
In Cambodian cities, signs in English and Khmer proclaim its desire for peace – one echoed by almost every Cambodian you meet.
From BBC • Dec. 18, 2025
Though we are afraid, Met Bong tells us the Khmer soldiers will keep them away from us.
From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung
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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.