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

Paperback publishers distributed their titles in African-American neighborhoods because it expanded their market base.

From The Daily Beast

Ed Brooke, the first African-American Senator since Reconstruction, embraced fights with the left and right.

From The Daily Beast

Still, for all of this, South Carolina is now represented in the U.S. Senate by Tim Scott, a Republican and an African-American.

From The Daily Beast

Finally, we have a major film on civil rights in which African Americans are the heroes in their own story.

From The Daily Beast

Among African Americans, the likes of Al Sharpton, Jesse Jackson, or Jeremiah Wright cannot do it.

From The Daily Beast

I looked up at sound of a startled exclamation, and beheld the round African physog of Lyn Rowan's colored mammy.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Ernescliffe manages him very well—used to illness on that African coast, and the doctor is very fond of him.

From Project Gutenberg

South African railways enjoy one great advantage—cheap coal for their engines.

From Project Gutenberg

The celebrated African farmer of Cedar creek, Del., died, almost 118 years of age.

From Project Gutenberg

She spoke in a strange language, no doubt some African tongue, but one which Rita understood perfectly.

From Project Gutenberg