Khmer

noun

kə-ˈmer 

plural Khmer or Khmers

1

: a member of an aboriginal people of Cambodia

2

: the Mon-Khmer language of the Khmer people that is the official language of Cambodia

Khmer adjective

Examples of Khmer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Karuna Long, chef of Sophon, a restaurant blending Khmer cuisine and Pacific Northwest bounty in Seattle Photograph by Michael Raines On sharing Khmer culture… There's a lot of pride and a sense of responsibility. —Elazar Sontag, Bon Appétit, 9 Dec. 2024

Long Beach is home to about 20,000 Cambodian Americans — the largest population of Khmer people in the United States. —Jireh Deng, Los Angeles Times, 7 Dec. 2024

Cambodia’s most celebrated filmmaker Rithy Panh has devoted his career to exploring the legacy of the Khmer Rouge through cinema. —Christian Zilko, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2024

When thinking of architecture of the Khmer Empire, which once ruled much of Southeast Asia, Angkor Wat is usually the first to come to mind. —Ashley Gardini, JSTOR Daily, 12 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

northern or western dialect Khmer khmε:r, a self-designation (standard Khmer khmaε)

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Khmer

• Mon-Khmer

Kids Definition

Khmer

noun

kə-ˈme(ə)r 

: a member of an aboriginal people of Cambodia