African

1 of 2

noun

Af·​ri·​can ˈa-fri-kən 

 also  ˈä-

1

: a native or inhabitant of Africa

2

: a person and especially a Black person of African ancestry

African

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the continent of Africa or its people

Africanness

ˈa-fri-kə(n)-nəs 

noun

Examples of African in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The administration also fired the head of the United States African Development Foundation, a sister organization of the IAF. —Michael Kunzelman, Chicago Tribune, 4 Apr. 2025

Pop into the National Museum of African American Music and the Ryman Auditorium before heading back to Bobby Nashville, where Backyard Sessions, a free summer rooftop music series, is the perfect way to wrap up your girls’ trip. —Lydia Mansel, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025

Adjective

Daniela and her parents, who, because of the peculiarities of the South African apartheid system, all received traditional Jewish educations. —David Bezmozgis, New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2025

Fofana immigrated to New York in his 30s from the West African country of Ivory Coast. —Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 6 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English Aufrican, Affrican, going back to Old English Africanas (plural), borrowed from Latin Āfricānus african entry 2

Adjective

borrowed from Latin Āfricānus, from Āfrica (short for Āfrica terra, literally, "African land," from feminine of Āfricus "of the Roman province of Africa [present-day northern Tunisia], of the continent of Africa," from Āfr-, Āfer "of Africa, inhabitant of North Africa [other than Egypt]" —of unknown origin— + -icus -ic entry 1) + -ānus -an entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1548, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing African

• African American
• African American English
• African American Language
• African American Vernacular English
• African buffalo
• African clawed frog
• African clawed toad
• African daisy
• African elephant
• African gray
• African hunting dog
• African mahogany
• African sleeping sickness
• African swine fever
• African violet
• African wild dog
• inter-African
• non-African
• South African

Kids Definition

African

noun

Af·​ri·​can

ˈaf-ri-kən

1

: a person born or living in Africa

2

: a person of African ancestry

African adjective