Amer·i·can
ə-ˈmer-ə-kən 
-ˈmər-
-ˈmər-
-ˈme-rə-
1
: an American Indian of North America or South America
2
: a native or inhabitant of North America or South America
3
: a native or inhabitant of the U.S. : a U.S. citizen
4
1
: of or relating to America
American people
2
: of or relating to the U.S. or its possessions or original territory
American soldiers
American embassies
American states
American culture
Examples of American in a Sentence
Noun
Americans in all 50 states.
The President's speech began with the words “My fellow Americans…”.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2024
The American Psychological Association also notes time spent outdoors can create improvements in mood, cognitive function and overall well-being, among other impacts.
—Kelly Livingston, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2024
Terry Anderson attends American Booksellers Association Convention on May 29, 1993 in Miami, Florida.
—CBS News, 22 Apr. 2024
Wisconsin first joined the global Trillion Trees Initiative, led by the World Economic Forum and American Forests, with an Evers executive order in 2021.
—Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024
Garfield's American Way Market sat on the corner of Pierce and 10th streets for decades and served as the neighborhood's grocery store.
—Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Emmy Russell continued her American Idol journey Sunday, singing for the chance to reach the Top 12.
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 22 Apr. 2024
Jurors also began to hear from the first witness: David Pecker, former CEO of American Media, the publishing company of the National Enquirer magazine.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 22 Apr. 2024
Yet, American Horror Story: Delicate, Diarra From Detroit, Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office, and more wrap up their seasons.
—Gerrad Hall, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2024
Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024
This is not the American health care system’s first crippling cyberattack, of course.
—Erika Fry, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
The company is among 130 in the sector active in Morocco, where parts ranging from wings to fuselages are produced in an industry that employs 42% women — a proportion that industry lobbyists say is larger than its European and North American manufacturing industry counterparts.
—Sam Metz, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
Eventually, a more sophisticated Cuban American community learned to work within the U.S. political system, aligning primarily with the Republican Party, whose leaders, from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump, appealed directly to the exiles.
—Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
So far, American negotiators have been unwilling to push for measures in the treaty that would drive big cuts in plastic waste, critics say, like caps on manufacturing.
—Michael Copley, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Delegates traveled to the United States to scout out flying schools that could teach young Chinese American pilots to fly for China.
—Susan Tate Ankeny, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession culminated in harrowing exorcisms.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
Overall, hate crimes reported across 25 American cities increased last year by an average of 17% from 2022, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University.
—Susan Loyer, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
Noun
The chef is winning over critics of the cut by sourcing Miyazaki A5 Wagyu, which has rich marbling of intramuscular fat that American Angus can’t match.
—Jeremy Repanich, Robb Report, 22 Apr. 2024
The American Psychological Association also notes time spent outdoors can create improvements in mood, cognitive function and overall well-being, among other impacts.
—Kelly Livingston, ABC News, 22 Apr. 2024
Terry Anderson attends American Booksellers Association Convention on May 29, 1993 in Miami, Florida.
—CBS News, 22 Apr. 2024
Wisconsin first joined the global Trillion Trees Initiative, led by the World Economic Forum and American Forests, with an Evers executive order in 2021.
—Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 22 Apr. 2024
Garfield's American Way Market sat on the corner of Pierce and 10th streets for decades and served as the neighborhood's grocery store.
—Morgan Fischer, The Arizona Republic, 22 Apr. 2024
Emmy Russell continued her American Idol journey Sunday, singing for the chance to reach the Top 12.
—Chris Sims, The Courier-Journal, 22 Apr. 2024
Jurors also began to hear from the first witness: David Pecker, former CEO of American Media, the publishing company of the National Enquirer magazine.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 22 Apr. 2024
Yet, American Horror Story: Delicate, Diarra From Detroit, Mr. Bates vs. the Post Office, and more wrap up their seasons.
—Gerrad Hall, EW.com, 22 Apr. 2024
Adjective
First, nothing is being forgiven — the debt is simply being transferred onto the shoulders of the American taxpayers.
—Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 24 Apr. 2024
This is not the American health care system’s first crippling cyberattack, of course.
—Erika Fry, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
The company is among 130 in the sector active in Morocco, where parts ranging from wings to fuselages are produced in an industry that employs 42% women — a proportion that industry lobbyists say is larger than its European and North American manufacturing industry counterparts.
—Sam Metz, Quartz, 23 Apr. 2024
Eventually, a more sophisticated Cuban American community learned to work within the U.S. political system, aligning primarily with the Republican Party, whose leaders, from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump, appealed directly to the exiles.
—Richard Feinberg, Foreign Affairs, 23 Apr. 2024
So far, American negotiators have been unwilling to push for measures in the treaty that would drive big cuts in plastic waste, critics say, like caps on manufacturing.
—Michael Copley, NPR, 23 Apr. 2024
Delegates traveled to the United States to scout out flying schools that could teach young Chinese American pilots to fly for China.
—Susan Tate Ankeny, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Apr. 2024
The film is an authentic portrayal of Emma Schmidt, an American woman whose demonic possession culminated in harrowing exorcisms.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 23 Apr. 2024
Overall, hate crimes reported across 25 American cities increased last year by an average of 17% from 2022, according to the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism at California State University.
—Susan Loyer, USA TODAY, 23 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'American.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“American.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/American. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
American
1 of 2 noun
Amer·i·can
ə-ˈmer-ə-kən
1
: a person born or living in North America or South America
especially
: a citizen of the U.S.
2
: the English language used in the U.S.
American
2 of 2 adjective1
: of or relating to North or South America or their residents
American coastline
2
: of or relating to the U.S. or its citizens
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