Latvian

noun

Lat·​vi·​an ˈlat-vē-ən How to pronounce Latvian (audio)
1
: a native or inhabitant of Latvia
2
: the Baltic language of the Latvian people
Latvian adjective

Examples of Latvian 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.
Latvia’s selection was made by the Latvian Selection Committee, a commission of film industry experts established by the National Film Center. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 12 Aug. 2024 Like fiction, chess has, as the Latvian International Master Alvis Vitolins wrote, no limits. Cory Leadbeater, The Atlantic, 1 July 2024 In addition to West Australian Ballet, Zed’s website lists recent pleas to the Latvian National Opera Ballet, Tbilisi Opera and Ballet State Theatre, Hungarian State Opera, and Boston Ballet to cancel their productions. The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 12 June 2024 Boston also improved to 10-1 in these playoffs without Kristaps Porzingis after the 7-foot-2 Latvian was ruled out about two hours before the game because of a rare tendon injury in his lower left leg sustained in Game 2. Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 13 June 2024 The Mavs looked differently with Kristaps Porzingis as the second star but the Latvian only played in three of the six games averaging 23.7 points, 8.7 rebounds, 1.0 blocks and 52% shooting from three-point range before being sidelined by a torn lateral meniscus. Lawrence Dow, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 15 Apr. 2024 The absence means the 7-foot-2 Latvian will go more than two years, at least, without playing in Dallas after the Mavs traded him to Washington in a 2022 blockbuster. Schuyler Dixon, USA TODAY, 23 Jan. 2024 The Hornets are the 31-year-old Latvian’s fifth NBA team. Shane Connuck, Charlotte Observer, 10 Feb. 2024 While the Latvian Basketball Association initially denied the injury, Porzingis later confirmed it on social media. Hayden Bird, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of Latvian was in 1924

Dictionary Entries Near Latvian

Cite this Entry

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

Kids Definition

Latvian

1 of 2 adjective
Lat·​vi·​an
ˈlat-vē-ən
: of, relating to, or characteristic of Latvia, the Latvians, or Latvian

Latvian

2 of 2 noun
1
: a person born or living in Latvia
2
: the Baltic language of the Latvian people
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