all-American

[ awl-uh-mer-i-kuhn ]

adjective

1. representing the entire United States.
2. composed exclusively of American members or elements.
3. selected as the best in the United States, as in a sport:

   the all-American college football team of 1983.

noun

1. an all-American player or performer.

all-American

adjective

1. representative of the whole of the United States
2. composed exclusively of American members
3. (of a person) typically American

   the company looks for all-American clean-cut college students

Word History and Origins

Origin of all-American¹

An Americanism dating back to 1885–90

Example Sentences

Despite being an all-American at the university a year ago, Knecht couldn’t relate.

From Los Angeles Times

Quarterback Husan Longstreet, who was held out of the regular-season finale to make sure he was healthy, looked the part of an All-American.

From Los Angeles Times

John Tanton grew up as an all-American farm boy in an almost mythologically quaint version of America.

From Salon

Her father, Rome, played football for USC and her mother, Maylana, was an All-American player for USC.

From Los Angeles Times

While all eyes were on Iowa’s Kaleb Johnson, the nation’s second-leading rusher and a midseason All-American, UCLA’s answer came from its backfield.

From Los Angeles Times