African

[ af-ri-kuhn ]

adjective

1. of or from Africa; belonging to the Black peoples of Africa.

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Africa.
2. (loosely) a Black person or other person of African ancestry.

African

/ ˈæfrɪkən /

adjective

1. denoting or relating to Africa or any of its peoples, languages, nations, etc

noun

1. a native, inhabitant, or citizen of any of the countries of Africa
2. a member or descendant of any of the peoples of Africa, esp a Black person

Other Words From

• Afri·can·ness noun
• inter-Afri·can adjective
• non-Afri·can adjective noun
• pro·Afri·can adjective noun
• pseudo-Afri·can adjective noun
• trans-Afri·can adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of African¹

First recorded before 1000 for noun, 1540–60 for adjective; Middle English noun Affrican, Aufrican “an inhabitant of North Africa or the Roman province of Africa (approximately modern Tunisia),” Old English noun Africanas “Africans” (accusative plural), from Late Latin Āfricānus “an inhabitant of Africa,” from Latin adjective Āfricānus “pertaining to Africa, African,” from Āfrica (short for terra Āfrica “African land”) “the continent of Africa, the Roman province of Africa,” a derivative of Āfrī, plural of adjective and noun Āfer ( Āfra, Āfrum ) “pertaining to Africa, African,” as a noun “an inhabitant of North Africa”; further etymology uncertain; possibly akin to Phoenician ʾafar “dust”; possibly the name of a local Libyan tribe ancestral to the Berbers

Example Sentences

This research is one of several discoveries on African chemical compounds that came from the collaboration between Wistar and the University of Buea Centre for Drug Discovery, which began in 2021.

From Science Daily

While less populist than Chuku’s, these restaurants also meld African flavors with Western traditions.

From New York Times

The area is also the home to a former World War II-era training center used by Gen. George Patton to prepare troops to fight in the North African deserts.

From Los Angeles Times

In response, in September the White House announced a $500 million commitment to support African countries’ efforts to respond to and contain the disease.

From Salon

These numbers don’t reveal much evidence of raging majoritarian white nationalism or the notion that African Americans would be alienated by flag-waving.

From Salon