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 wild bat was found at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday next to the public elevator in the African Loop, near the hot air balloon ride, according to a release. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 11 May 2025

Prince Harry, 40, first partnered with African Parks in 2016 and became president of the non-profit conservation group that manages national parks across the continent the following year. —Stephanie Petit, People.com, 9 May 2025

Adjective

Showmax parent MultiChoice has already snapped up African rights for Boy Under Water, which was selected for the 2023 Content London Drama Series Pitch. —Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 12 May 2025

Trump's program came after the South African government signed into law a new land expropriation bill in January—the Expropriation Act 13 of 2024 replaced the apartheid-era Expropriation Act 63 of 1975. —Jordan King, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 May 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