African

1 of 2

noun

Af·​ri·​can ˈa-fri-kən How to pronounce African (audio)
 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 noun

Examples of African in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Noun
Crenshaw said Georgia has played an important role in the history of African Americans. Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024 Will the Harris campaign hit or exceed the Biden or Obama levels among African Americans and Latinos? Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Trump’s strategy has presumed that the crude, masculinist appeal that has won him the support of large numbers of male voters will have cross-racial success and erode Harris’s support among the crucial African American male electorate. The New Yorker, 5 Nov. 2024 For his second outing on Nov. 5, Prince William met with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the president’s official residence in Cape Town. Simon Perry, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for African 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of African was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near African

Cite this Entry

“African.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/African. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

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
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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