Yankee

[ yang-kee ]

noun

1. a native or inhabitant of the United States.
2. a native or inhabitant of New England.
3. a native or inhabitant of a northern U.S. state, especially of one of the northeastern states that sided with the Union in the American Civil War.
4. a federal or northern soldier in the American Civil War.
5. a word used in communications to represent the letter Y.
6. Military. the NATO name for a class of streamlined, nuclear-powered Soviet submarines, with 16 multiple-warhead ballistic missiles: first produced for the Soviet Navy in the 1960s; in service with the Russian Navy 1992–95.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of a Yankee or Yankees:

   Yankee ingenuity.

Yankee

/ ˈjæŋkɪ /

noun

1. derogatory.
   a native or inhabitant of the US; American
2. a native or inhabitant of New England
3. a native or inhabitant of the Northern US, esp a Northern soldier in the Civil War
4. communications a code word for the letter y
5. finance a bond issued in the US by a foreign borrower

adjective

1. of, relating to, or characteristic of Yankees

Yankee

1. Originally a nickname for people from New England , now applied to anyone from the United States. Even before the American Revolutionary War , the term Yankee was used by the British to refer, derisively, to the American colonists. Since the Civil War , American southerners have called all northerners Yankees. Since World War I , the rest of the world has used the term to refer to all Americans.

Notes

The expression “Yankee, go home” reflects foreign resentment of American presence or involvement in other nations' affairs.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Yankee¹

An Americanism dating back to 1680–90 of uncertain origin; perhaps back formation from Dutch Jan Kees “John Cheese,” nickname (mistaken for plural) applied by the Dutch of colonial New York to English settlers in Connecticut

Word History and Origins

Origin of Yankee¹

C18: perhaps from Dutch Jan Kees John Cheese, nickname used derisively by Dutch settlers in New York to designate English colonists in Connecticut

Example Sentences

Jeter grapples with his racial identity, a subject rarely discussed during his playing days, his fraught relationship with fellow superstar—and eventual Yankee teammate—Alex Rodriguez, and even some of his forays into the tabloid gossip pages.

From Time

It’s a testament to how special this Yankee season has been so far.

From FiveThirtyEight

So in his place, Daddy Yankee stepped into the Sean John campaign, introducing his face to countless people around the country.

From Time

NBA legend Allen Iverson is to the durag what rapper Jay-Z is to the Yankee fitted.

From FiveThirtyEight

As a result, only 26 percent of Yankee runners eventually come around to score, the fourth-lowest rate of any team.

From FiveThirtyEight

Ditto Virginia, but in reverse; culturally, northern Virginia is Yankee land (but with gun shops).

From The Daily Beast

The flag that was unveiled at Yankee Stadium 19 days after 9/11 was a different, much larger one.

From The Daily Beast

The major question for the Republican Party going forward is what all these Yankee newcomers will mean for its direction.

From The Daily Beast

Jeter currently holds the Yankee record for stolen bases, and in 2009, he earned the hits record, as well.

From The Daily Beast

So long to a winner, a superstar, a gentleman, and a Yankee.

From The Daily Beast

A Yankee, whose face had been mauled in a pot-house brawl, assured General Jackson that he had received his scars in battle.

From Project Gutenberg

Then with your victorious legions you can march south and help drive the Yankee invaders from the land.

From Project Gutenberg

Here the conversation ended, and the Yankee took up his quarters for two weeks.

From Project Gutenberg

Like many other Yankee notions, it did not thrive here, and the humming of those bees soon ceased.

From Project Gutenberg

When told two of his men had killed a Yankee and captured a Yankee captain, he asked what had been done with the captain.

From Project Gutenberg