Russian

noun

Rus·​sian ˈrə-shən How to pronounce Russian (audio)
1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Russia
b
: a member of the dominant Slavic-speaking ethnic group of Russia
c
: a person of Russian descent
2
: a Slavic language of the Russian people spoken as a second language by many non-Russian ethnic groups of the Soviet Union and its successor states
Russian adjective
Russianness noun

Examples of Russian 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.
Read More About: Mr. Nobody Against Putin, Sundance Film Festival Jump to Comments ‘Mr. Nobody Against Putin’ Review: A Defiant Teacher Witnesses the Militarization of Russian Schools Amid Ukraine War in Poignant Doc Reviewed at Wilshire Screening Room, Los Angeles, Calif. on Jan. 14, 2024. Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025 Newsweek reached out to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation for comment via email outside of business hours. Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 25 Jan. 2025 The last Russian nominated for an Academy Award in an acting category was Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1977 for The Turning Point. Lily Ford, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Jan. 2025 The company worked with the U.S. Air Force, and used machines to translate instructions from Russian to English for the Apollo-Soyuz Test Project, a joint U.S.-Soviet space mission launched in 1975. Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for Russian 

Word History

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of Russian was in 1538

Dictionary Entries Near Russian

Cite this Entry

“Russian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Russian. Accessed 29 Jan. 2025.

Kids Definition

Russian

noun
Rus·​sian ˈrəsh-ən How to pronounce Russian (audio)
1
: a person born or living in Russia
2
: a Slavic language of the Russian people
Russian adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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