African

1 of 2

noun

Af·​ri·​can ˈa-fri-kən How to pronounce African (audio)
 also  ˈä-
1
: a native or inhabitant of Africa
2
: a person and especially a Black person of African ancestry

African

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of the continent of Africa or its people
Africanness
ˈa-fri-kə(n)-nəs How to pronounce African (audio)
noun

Examples of African 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.
Noun
Harris’ family has roots in Saint Ann Parish, on the north coast of the island, where Marcus Mosiah Garvey, the founder of the Universal Negro Improvement Association and African Communities League (UNIA), was born. —Ana Lucia Araujo / Made By History, TIME, 4 Nov. 2024 Crenshaw said Georgia has played an important role in the history of African Americans. —Deborah Barfield Berry, USA TODAY, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
Extending and updating the African Growth and Opportunity Act, scheduled to expire in 2025, is another opportunity for engagement that would provide duty-free access to the U.S. market for certain exports from over 30 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. —Leslie Vinjamuri, Foreign Affairs, 15 Nov. 2024 While History Park has buildings celebrating the culture of Portuguese, Chinese, Italian, Mexican, African American and Vietnamese residents of the valley, there’s no Japanese representation. —Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 14 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for African 

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English Aufrican, Affrican, going back to Old English Africanas (plural), borrowed from Latin Āfricānus african entry 2

Adjective

borrowed from Latin Āfricānus, from Āfrica (short for Āfrica terra, literally, "African land," from feminine of Āfricus "of the Roman province of Africa [present-day northern Tunisia], of the continent of Africa," from Āfr-, Āfer "of Africa, inhabitant of North Africa [other than Egypt]" —of unknown origin— + -icus -ic entry 1) + -ānus -an entry 2

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1548, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of African was before the 12th century

Phrases Containing African

Dictionary Entries Near African

Africa

African

Africana

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“African.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/African. Accessed 29 Nov. 2024.

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Kids Definition

African

noun
Af·​ri·​can
ˈaf-ri-kən
1
: a person born or living in Africa
2
: a person of African ancestry
African adjective
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