Libyan

American  

[lib-ee-uhn] / ˈlɪb i ən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Libya or its inhabitants.

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Libya.

2. a Berber language of ancient Libya.

ˈLibyan British  

/ ˈlɪbɪən /

adjective

1. of or relating to Libya, its people, or its language

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Libya

2. the extinct Hamitic language of ancient Libya

Other Word Forms

• anti-Libyan adjective
• pro-Libyan adjective
• trans-Libyan adjective

Etymology

Origin of Libyan

First recorded in 1535–45; Liby(a) + -an

Example Sentences

A damaged Russian gas tanker that was abandoned in the Mediterranean will be towed to a Libyan port, according to a state-owned oil company in the north African country.

From Barron's • Mar. 22, 2026

Moammar Gadhafi, the Libyan dictator, agreed in 2004 to turn over his nuclear-bomb-making material, Phoenix Air was sent to Tripoli to retrieve it.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 20, 2026

Libyan port officials said initially that the tanker had sunk, but it has been floating, unmanned and dangerous ever since.

From BBC • Mar. 17, 2026

The Libyan port authority said the ship was hit by "sudden explosions followed by a massive fire, which ultimately led to its complete sinking" north of the port of Sirte.

From Barron's • Mar. 15, 2026

Soon the room was piled with goatskin rugs from Lebanon, richly embroidered blankets from Arabia, Libyan tapestries, and swords from Toledo crossed over a coat of arms.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy