American

Definition

American refers to a person who is a native or citizen of the United States of America, or to anything of, relating to, or characteristic of the United States. As an adjective, it describes attributes, culture, or language associated with the United States.

Parts of Speech

• Noun
• Adjective

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA: /əˈmɛrɪkən/
• Respelling: uh-MER-i-kuhn

British English

• IPA: /əˈmɛrɪkən/
• Respelling: uh-MER-i-kuhn

Etymology

Early 17th century: from America, the continent named after the explorer Amerigo Vespucci, with the adjectival suffix -an.

Derivatives

• Americanize (verb)
• Americanism (noun)
• Americanization (noun)
• Americanness (noun)

Synonyms

• U.S. citizen
• United States national
• Yankee (informal)

Antonyms

• Foreigner
• Non-American

Usage

"She is an American living abroad."

"The American flag flew over the Capitol."

"American cuisine varies widely by region."

Related Terms

• United States: The country comprising fifty states and a federal district.
• USA: Abbreviation for the United States of America.
• Citizen: A legally recognized subject or national of a state.
• Patriot: A person who vigorously supports their country.
• Nationality: The status of belonging to a particular nation.

Detailed Definitions

Noun

• A person who is a native or citizen of the United States of America – an individual holding U.S. nationality.
  • Example: "Many Americans celebrate Independence Day on July 4th."

Adjective

• Of or relating to the United States of America – describing something characteristic of U.S. culture, politics, or geography.
  • Example: "The American economy is one of the largest in the world."
• Relating to the English language as used in the United States – denoting the variant of English spoken in the U.S.
  • Example: "She prefers American spelling like 'color' over 'colour.'"

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