Scandinavian

[skan-duh-ney-vee-uh n]

adjective

of or relating to Scandinavia, its inhabitants, or their languages.

noun

a native or inhabitant of Scandinavia.
the group of languages composed of Danish, Icelandic, Norwegian, Old Norse, Swedish, and the language of the Faeroe Islands; North Germanic. Abbreviation: Scand

Origin of Scandinavian

First recorded in 1775–85; Scandinavi(a) + -an

Related formsnon-Scan·di·na·vi·an, adjective, nounpro-Scan·di·na·vi·an, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for scandinavian

Contemporary Examples of scandinavian

In Scandinavian countries this discrimination has been dramatically reduced.
How Good Dads Can Change the World
Gary Barker, PhD, Michael Kaufman
January 6, 2015
Tallinn feels palpably Scandinavian with its polished old-town brick, seaside positioning and glut of cool cafes.
Next Stop, Quito: Our Top Cities for 2015
Brandon Presser
December 19, 2014
How about adopting the Scandinavian “bicycle monarchy” model, for example?
Imagining Prince Charles as King Makes All of Britain Wish They Could Leave Like Scotland
Clive Irving
September 17, 2014
Look at The Killing, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, all of these Scandinavian things with female investigators.
Frances McDormand on 'Olive Kitteridge,' Dropping LSD, and Her Beef With FX's 'Fargo'
Marlow Stern
September 3, 2014
Because I believe the original Scandinavian series it was based on was originally meant to be just one season.
Joan Allen on ‘The Killing’ Finale and That Mother of a Twist
Kevin Fallon
August 7, 2014

Historical Examples of scandinavian

Their religion resembled that of their Scandinavian neighbours.
English Villages
P. H. Ditchfield
The origin of the name thistle is probably Scandinavian, and associated with Thor.
Storyology
Benjamin Taylor
The play was the latest work of the Scandinavian dramatist, the actress was Glory Quayle.
The Christian
Hall Caine
Indeed, we have many pure Scandinavian surnames and place-names.
The Little Manx Nation - 1891
Hall Caine
The second attack on the Scandinavian convoy occurred on 12th December.
Submarine Warfare of To-day
Charles W. Domville-Fife

British Dictionary definitions for scandinavian

Scandinavian

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Scandinavia, its inhabitants, or their languages

noun

a native or inhabitant of Scandinavia
Also: Norse the northern group of Germanic languages, consisting of Swedish, Danish, Norwegian, Icelandic, and Faeroese

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

Word Origin and History for scandinavian

Scandinavian

adj.

1784; see Scandinavia + -ian. From 1830 as a noun; 1959 in reference to furniture and decor. In U.S. colloquial use sometimes Scandahoovian (1929), Scandiwegian. Alternative adjective Scandian (1660s) is from Latin Scandia.