In·do-Eu·ro·pe·an
ˌin-dō-ˌyu̇r-ə-ˈpē-ən 
: of, relating to, or constituting the Indo-European languages
1
a
: a member of the people speaking an unrecorded prehistoric language from which the Indo-European languages are descended
b
: this language
Examples of Indo-European in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
These words might be connected to an earlier Indo-European root related to burning or heat, since brass is made by smelting copper and zinc, though this is not definitively established.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
The newfound mobility of these early riders, the story goes, helped catalyze huge migrations across the continent, distributing ancestral Indo-European languages and cultures across Eurasia.
—William Taylor, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2024
Another 30% speak an Asian language and 10% speak an Indo-European language.
—Ray Chavez, The Mercury News, 4 July 2024
The Celts — an Indo-European people who lived across much of the European continent — were famous for leaving weapons and tools in places for deities.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 18 June 2024
Nazi race theorists took these ideas one step further by fixing the Indo-European homeland in northern Germany proper, propelling fantasies of a fresh wave of Aryan conquest.
—Maya Jasanoff, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024
Germany was the birthplace of Indo-European culture, the Nazis believed, so Germans really were the master race.
—William Deresiewicz, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Researchers found the new Indo-European language on a religious ritual tablet.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Adjective
The Phrygians were an ancient Indo-European people who inhabited central Anatolia (in what is now modern-day Turkey) during the early first millennium B.C.
—Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2024
These words might be connected to an earlier Indo-European root related to burning or heat, since brass is made by smelting copper and zinc, though this is not definitively established.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 11 Sep. 2024
The newfound mobility of these early riders, the story goes, helped catalyze huge migrations across the continent, distributing ancestral Indo-European languages and cultures across Eurasia.
—William Taylor, The Conversation, 3 Sep. 2024
Another 30% speak an Asian language and 10% speak an Indo-European language.
—Ray Chavez, The Mercury News, 4 July 2024
The Celts — an Indo-European people who lived across much of the European continent — were famous for leaving weapons and tools in places for deities.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 18 June 2024
Nazi race theorists took these ideas one step further by fixing the Indo-European homeland in northern Germany proper, propelling fantasies of a fresh wave of Aryan conquest.
—Maya Jasanoff, The New Yorker, 6 May 2024
Germany was the birthplace of Indo-European culture, the Nazis believed, so Germans really were the master race.
—William Deresiewicz, The Atlantic, 2 Apr. 2024
Researchers found the new Indo-European language on a religious ritual tablet.
—Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 21 Nov. 2023
Dictionary Entries Near Indo-European
Cite this Entry
“Indo-European.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Indo-European. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share