Italian

1 of 2

noun

Ital·​ian ə-ˈtal-yən How to pronounce Italian (audio)
i-,
also
ˌī- How to pronounce Italian (audio)
1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Italy
b
: a person of Italian descent
2
: the Romance language of the Italians

Italian

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Italy, the Italians, or Italian

Examples of Italian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Noun
Three more wins followed, with Heinz-Harald Frentzen winning the French and Italian Grands Prix in 1999, as Jordan finished third in the constructors’ championship - its best result in 15 seasons that spanned 250 races. Dan Cancian, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025 Players stood around a lot, processing in-game situations to replicate the Italian’s forensic build-up from the back. Andy Naylor, The Athletic, 20 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Since 2019, it’s established itself as the local go-to for seasonal Italian cuisine—the handmade pastas are exceptional—and warm, familial service. Katie Chang, Forbes, 21 Mar. 2025 Since 2019, leaders in the small Italian town of Avezzano in the Abruzzo region have been calling on the Louvre museum in Paris to return a medieval stone bas-relief that was once part of their local church, San Nicola, which was destroyed in a 1915 earthquake, reports Le Journal des Arts. The Editors Of Artnews, ARTnews.com, 21 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Italian

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Italian was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Italian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Italian. Accessed 31 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

Italian

noun
Ital·​ian
ə-ˈtal-yən,
i-
1
a
: a person born or living in Italy
b
: a person of Italian ancestry
2
: the Romance language of the Italians
Italian adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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