Pronunciation

/əˈmɛrɪkən/

Definitions

• Noun: 1. A person from the United States or its territories, or a native or inhabitant of the continent of North America. 2. A citizen of the United States. 3. (informal) Characteristic of or typical of the United States or its people, culture, or lifestyle.
• Adjective: Relating to or coming from the United States or its inhabitants; pertaining to the country, its people, or their characteristics.

Phrases

• “American cuisine”
• “American dream”
• “Speak American English”

Example Sentences

• Noun: “The American flag waved proudly in the wind.”
• Adjective: “The car was a sleek, all-American muscle car.”
• “She has a unique blend of European and American influences in her art.”

Synonyms

• U.S.-born
• Domestic
• Yankee
• Stateside
• National

Antonyms

• Foreign
• Non-American
• Exotic
• International

Etymology

The word “American” comes from the Latin name for the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who theorized that the lands discovered by Christopher Columbus were not part of Asia but a separate continent, which we now know as the Americas. The term eventually became associated with the people and culture of the region.