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Yugoslav

American  
[yoo-goh-slahv, -slav] / ˈju goʊˌslɑv, -ˌslæv /
Or Jugoslav

noun

  1. a native or inhabitant of the former country of Yugoslavia.

  2. a southern Slav; a member of the southern group of Slavic peoples.


adjective

  1. of or relating to the Yugoslavs.

Yugoslav British  
/ ˈjuːɡəʊˌslɑːv /

noun

  1. (formerly) a native, inhabitant, or citizen of Yugoslavia (sense 1 or 2)

  2. (not in technical use) another name for Serbo-Croat

"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. (formerly) of, relating to, or characteristic of Yugoslavia (sense 1 or 2) or its people

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of Yugoslav

1850–55; earlier Jugo-Slav < German Jugoslawe < Serbo-Croatian Jugoslòvēn, Jugoslàvēn, equivalent to jȕg south + -o- -o- + Slovēn, Slavēn Slav

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.

See Examples For:

Although he was revered by his men, former Yugoslav army spokesman Ljubodrag Stojadinovic once described him as "narcissistic, conceited, vain and arrogant".

From Barron's Aug. 27, 2026

At the time, the Tana family was vacationing on a remote Yugoslav island when a telegram arrived: “The restaurant burned down. Call me, Pearl,” recalls Katerina Tana, one of Dan Tana’s daughters.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 14, 2026

Yet even Honor is cowed by the household’s steely Yugoslav maid, Greta, who dismisses all heartbreaks and hysterics with the motto, “play stupid games, win stupid prizes.”

From The Wall Street Journal May 15, 2026

Pilic was suspended by the Yugoslav Tennis Association, which claimed he had refused to play in a Davis Cup tie.

From BBC May 7, 2026

On Gligoric’s thirty-second move, the Yugoslav looked up from the board and said, “Remis?”

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

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