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Nubian

American  
[noo-bee-uhn, nyoo-] / ˈnu bi ən, ˈnyu- /

noun

  1. a member of any of the various peoples inhabiting Nubia.

  2. the Nilo-Saharan language of the Nubians.

  3. Obsolete. a Nubian slave.

  4. a Nubian horse.


adjective

  1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Nubia, its people, or their language.

Nubian British  
/ ˈnjuːbɪən /

noun

  1. a native or inhabitant of Nubia, an ancient region of NE Africa

  2. the language spoken by the people of Nubia

"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

adjective

  1. of or relating to Nubia or its inhabitants

  2. informal of or relating to Black culture

"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

Etymology

Origin of Nubian

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English; Nubia, -an

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.

Legend has it that the lion-headed figure protected the country from invasions and was worshiped as a god of war in the ancient Nubian kingdoms of Kush.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 24, 2026

For example, the founder of Sundial Brands, which is the manufacturer behind popular beauty brands like SheaMoisture and Nubian Heritage, is bald.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 27, 2024

Camden Council and the Nubian Jak Community Trust collaborated on the plaque, which is also the first to be put on a place of worship.

From BBC • Jan. 24, 2024

Their tracks, sung in Arabic, English and local Nubian languages, often focus on social issues such as the rights of children to a better future.

From Reuters • Sep. 27, 2023

“Calm down and think hard, my Nubian selfhood.”

From "145th Street: Short Stories" by Walter Dean Myers

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