1
plural in construction : a member of any of the indigenous and traditionally hunter-gatherer peoples of southern Africa who are considered the oldest inhabitants of the region

Note: The San are also referred to as Bushmen, a term that continues in widespread use but is sometimes considered offensive.

2
: the Khoisan languages spoken by the San people

Word History

Etymology

Khoikhoi

First Known Use

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of San was in 1876

Dictionary Entries Near San

Cite this Entry

“San.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/San. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on San

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!