Khmer

American  

[kmair, kuh-mair] / kmɛər, kəˈmɛər /

noun

1. 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.

2. an Austroasiatic language that is the official language of Cambodia.

---

Khmer British  

/ kmɜː, kmɛə /

noun

1. a member of a people of Cambodia, noted for a civilization that flourished from about 800 _ad to about 1370, remarkable for its architecture

2. the language of this people, belonging to the Mon-Khmer family: the official language of Cambodia

---

adjective

1. of or relating to this people or their language

Other Word Forms

• Khmerian
  adjective

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Khmer

"Resolving this issue with a conciliatory spirit through dialogue between Khmer and Khmer is the best option for the national and Cambodian people's interest," Kem Sokha said, referring to the majority ethnic group in Cambodia.

From Barron's ● May 25, 2026

Ticket sales at its world-famous Khmer monuments are down more than half from before the Covid-19 pandemic.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 20, 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

There have always been close links between people in Surin: many Cambodians work there, and Khmer, the Cambodian language, is spoken throughout the region.

From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2025

All the songs are about worshiping the powerful leader of the Angkar, Pol Pot, the glory of Angkar society, and the unbeatable Khmer soldiers.

From "First They Killed My Father: A Daughter of Cambodia Remembers" by Loung Ung