Yankee

[ yang-kee ]

/ ˈyæŋ ki /

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noun

a native or inhabitant of the United States.

a native or inhabitant of New England.

a native or inhabitant of a northern U.S. state, especially of one of the northeastern states that sided with the Union in the American Civil War.

a federal or northern soldier in the American Civil War.

a word used in communications to represent the letter Y.

Military. the NATO name for a class of streamlined, nuclear-powered Soviet submarines, with 16 multiple-warhead ballistic missiles: first produced for the Soviet Navy in the 1960s; in service with the Russian Navy 1992–95.

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of a Yankee or Yankees: Yankee ingenuity.

QUIZ

THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?

Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.

Question 1 of 7

In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of Yankee

An Americanism dating back to 1680–90 of uncertain origin; perhaps back formation from Dutch Jan Kees “John Cheese,” nickname (mistaken for plural) applied by the Dutch of colonial New York to English settlers in Connecticut

Words nearby Yankee

Yangtze, Yangtze River, Yangzhou, Yanina, yank, Yankee, Yankee bond, Yankeedom, Yankee Doodle, “Yankee Doodle Dandy”, Yankeefy

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

How to use Yankee in a sentence

Jeter grapples with his racial identity, a subject rarely discussed during his playing days, his fraught relationship with fellow superstar—and eventual Yankee teammate—Alex Rodriguez, and even some of his forays into the tabloid gossip pages.
A Long Talk With Derek Jeter on Alex Rodriguez, Colin Kaepernick, and His 20 Years as a Yankee|Sean Gregory|July 18, 2022|Time
It’s a testament to how special this Yankee season has been so far.
The Yankees Are Partying Like It’s 1998|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|June 24, 2022|FiveThirtyEight
So in his place, Daddy Yankee stepped into the Sean John campaign, introducing his face to countless people around the country.
Reggaeton Is So Much More Than Party Music. This Podcast Breaks Down Its Political Roots|Andrew R. Chow|October 6, 2021|Time
NBA legend Allen Iverson is to the durag what rapper Jay-Z is to the Yankee fitted.
Marcus Stroman Wears A Durag Every Game He Starts. Which One Does He Pitch Best In?|Shakeia Taylor|August 17, 2021|FiveThirtyEight

As a result, only 26 percent of Yankee runners eventually come around to score, the fourth-lowest rate of any team.
The Yankees Have A Fundamental Problem: Their Fundamentals|Neil Paine (neil.paine@fivethirtyeight.com)|May 5, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Ditto Virginia, but in reverse; culturally, northern Virginia is Yankee land (but with gun shops).
Dems, It’s Time to Dump Dixie|Michael Tomasky|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The flag that was unveiled at Yankee Stadium 19 days after 9/11 was a different, much larger one.
Brad Meltzer's Passion For Reuniting America With Its Historic Objects|Oliver Jones|November 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The major question for the Republican Party going forward is what all these Yankee newcomers will mean for its direction.
Return of the Northeastern Republican|David Freedlander|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Jeter currently holds the Yankee record for stolen bases, and in 2009, he earned the hits record, as well.
10 Unforgettable Derek Jeter Highlights (VIDEO)|Jack Holmes|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
So long to a winner, a superstar, a gentleman, and a Yankee.
10 Unforgettable Derek Jeter Highlights (VIDEO)|Jack Holmes|September 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A Yankee, whose face had been mauled in a pot-house brawl, assured General Jackson that he had received his scars in battle.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Then with your victorious legions you can march south and help drive the Yankee invaders from the land.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn
Here the conversation ended, and the Yankee took up his quarters for two weeks.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun;|Various
Like many other Yankee notions, it did not thrive here, and the humming of those bees soon ceased.
Showell's Dictionary of Birmingham|Thomas T. Harman and Walter Showell
When told two of his men had killed a Yankee and captured a Yankee captain, he asked what had been done with the captain.
The Courier of the Ozarks|Byron A. Dunn

British Dictionary definitions for Yankee

Yankee

informal Yank

/ (ˈjæŋkɪ) /

noun

often derogatory a native or inhabitant of the US; American

a native or inhabitant of New England

a native or inhabitant of the Northern US, esp a Northern soldier in the Civil War

communications a code word for the letter y

finance a bond issued in the US by a foreign borrower

adjective

of, relating to, or characteristic of Yankees

Word Origin for Yankee

C18: perhaps from Dutch Jan Kees John Cheese, nickname used derisively by Dutch settlers in New York to designate English colonists in Connecticut

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

Cultural definitions for Yankee

Yankee

Originally a nickname for people from New England, now applied to anyone from the United States. Even before the American Revolutionary War, the term Yankee was used by the British to refer, derisively, to the American colonists. Since the Civil War, American southerners have called all northerners Yankees. Since World War I, the rest of the world has used the term to refer to all Americans.

notes for Yankee

The expression “Yankee, go home” reflects foreign resentment of American presence or involvement in other nations' affairs.