Italian

1 of 2

noun

Ital·​ian ə-ˈtal-yən 

i-,

also

ˌī- 

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

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

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

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

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing Italian

• anti-Italian
• Italian American
• Italian dressing
• Italian greyhound
• Italian parsley
• Italian sandwich
• Italian sonnet
• Upper Italian

Rhymes for Italian

• battalion
• medallion
• scallion
• stallion

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