Russian

[ ruhsh-uhn ]

/ ˈrʌʃ ən /

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adjective

of or relating to Russia, its people, or their language.

noun

a native or inhabitant of Russia.

a member of a Slavic people, the dominant ethnic group in the Russian Federation, whose historical homeland lies along the upper Volga and Oka rivers and adjacent areas.

the Slavic language of this people, written in the Cyrillic alphabet: the official language of Russia or the Russian Federation. Abbreviations: Russ, Russ.

Informal. Russian dressing.

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of Russian

First recorded in 1530–40; from Medieval Latin Russiānus, derivative of Russia, Latinization of Old East Slavic Rusĭ; see origin at Russ, Russia, -an

OTHER WORDS FROM Russian

anti-Russian, adjective, nounhalf-Russian, adjectivenon-Russian, adjective, nounpro-Russian, adjective, noun

pseudo-Russian, adjective, nounsemi-Russian, adjective, noun

Words nearby Russian

Russellville, russet, russet Burbank, Russia, Russia leather, Russian, Russian doll, Russian dressing, Russian Empire, Russian Federation, Russianize

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use Russian in a sentence

Then came Bess Myerson, a daughter of Russian-Jewish immigrants who was raised in the Sholem Aleichem Houses in the Bronx.
Why Was Bess Myerson the First and Last Jewish Miss America?|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This is not the first time the director has fallen for Russian propaganda.
Oliver Stone’s Latest Dictator Suckup|James Kirchick|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
What it endangers is a narrow conception of Russian power, understood through the eyes of its dictatorial leader.
Oliver Stone’s Latest Dictator Suckup|James Kirchick|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Unlike the Soviet Union at a certain period in history, the Russian economy does not hold a candle to that of the United States.
Oliver Stone’s Latest Dictator Suckup|James Kirchick|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST

His first language was Russian, then he learned Swedish, but chooses to perform in monosyllabic broken English.
The Cult of Yung Lean: ‘I’m Building An Anarchistic Society From the Ground Up’|Marlow Stern|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The Russian general Bauer made her his mistress, after which she lived a short time with prince Mentschicoff.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Accordingly, when in 1812 he planned his Russian campaign, he entrusted Ney with the command of the third corps.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
It is perhaps somewhat superfluous to say that the Russian Government at once adopted these balloons for war purposes.
Asbestos|Robert H. Jones
An imperial ukase ordered that all the serfs in certain of the Russian states, between the ages of 30 and 35, should be enrolled.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
This original Russian edition was followed almost immediately by a German translation, published in Leipzig by the same firm.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky

British Dictionary definitions for Russian

Russian

/ (ˈrʌʃən) /

noun

the official language of Russia: an Indo-European language belonging to the East Slavonic branch

the official language of the former Soviet Union

a native or inhabitant of Russia

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Russia, its people, or their language

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