Esperanto

American  

[es-puh-rahn-toh, -ran-] / ˌɛs pəˈrɑn toʊ, -ˈræn- /

noun

1. an artificial language invented in 1887 by L. L. Zamenhof (1859–1917), a Polish physician and philologist, and intended for international use. It is based on word roots common to the major European languages.

---

Esperanto British  

/ ˌɛspəˈræntəʊ /

noun

1. an international artificial language based on words common to the chief European languages, invented in 1887

---

Other Word Forms

• Esperantism noun
• Esperantist noun

Etymology

Origin of Esperanto

1890–95; originally pseudonym of inventor; literally, the hoping one. See esperance

Example Sentences

A standing credit line in renminbi is the financial equivalent of fluency in Esperanto.

From Washington Post • Mar. 20, 2022

That last tweet originally gave the defense secretary's last name as "Esperanto," sparking no end of humor on social media.

From Salon • Oct. 21, 2019

“Mark Esperanto, Secretary of Defense, ‘The cease-fire is holding up very nicely.

From New York Times • Oct. 20, 2019

In the tweet, Trump quoted “Mark Esperanto, Secretary of Defense, ‘The ceasefire is holding up very nicely.

From Slate • Oct. 20, 2019

Dad’s theories ranged from Esperanto, which he made us study because he thought it was the answer to half the world’s problems, to immaculate conception, which he said wasn’t supported by available biological evidence.

From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey