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

In the seventh inning of Game 2 of the World Series against the New York Yankees, he suffered a partial dislocation of his left shoulder on a slide into second.

From Los Angeles Times

Despite helping the Yankees reach the World Series this year in a stellar first season in the Bronx, Soto has also said all teams will have an equal opportunity to sign him.

From Los Angeles Times

“It’s kind of like me trying to run the New York Yankees,” Jones said of Harris leading the country.

From Los Angeles Times

During World Series Game 3, he pitched five scoreless innings in the team’s 4-2 win against the New York Yankees, before closing out the series with his first career save in Game 5.

From Los Angeles Times

Chisholm was traded from the Marlins to the Yankees in July.

From Los Angeles Times