1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Germany
b
: a person of German descent
c
: one whose native language is German and who is a native of a country other than Germany
2
a
: the Germanic language spoken mainly in Germany, Austria, and parts of Switzerland
b
: the literary and official language of Germany
3
: a member of any of the Germanic peoples inhabiting western Europe in Roman times
4
often not capitalized
a
: a dance consisting of intricate figures that are improvised and intermingled with waltzes
b
chiefly Midland US
: a dancing party
specifically
: one at which the german is danced
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Germany, the Germans, or German
ger·man
ˈjər-mən 
: having the same parents or the same grandparents on either the maternal or paternal side
—usually used after the noun which it modifies and joined to it by a hyphen
brother-german
cousin-german
obsolete
: a near relative
Examples of German in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Amanda Taub, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Janis Kluge, deputy head of the Eastern Europe and Eurasia division from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, told Newsweek on Tuesday that the collapse of the ruble at the end of 2024 had fueled price increases by making vital imports more expensive.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
During a recent public city meeting where City Council Members unanimously approved the project, city planner Jacob German said the project supports the city’s goals, especially those pertaining to pedestrian, bicycle and transit mobility.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2025
But that arrangement might not be so grand for Germans seeking change in the Bundestag.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for German
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Noun
Source: German Federal Statistical Office via Hans Lueders, Hoover Institution, Stanford University.
—Amanda Taub, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025
Janis Kluge, deputy head of the Eastern Europe and Eurasia division from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, told Newsweek on Tuesday that the collapse of the ruble at the end of 2024 had fueled price increases by making vital imports more expensive.
—Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
During a recent public city meeting where City Council Members unanimously approved the project, city planner Jacob German said the project supports the city’s goals, especially those pertaining to pedestrian, bicycle and transit mobility.
—Abigail Hasebroock, Sun Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2025
But that arrangement might not be so grand for Germans seeking change in the Bundestag.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 24 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for German
Cite this Entry
“German.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/German. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.
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