African American

noun

variants or less commonly African-American

ˌa-fri-kə-nə-ˈmer-ə-kən 

-ˈme-rə-,

 also  ˌä-

plural African Americans also African-Americans

: an American of African and especially of Black African descent

often, specifically : a direct descendant of Africans who were enslaved in the U.S. or in any area that became part of the U.S.

African American adjective

or less commonly African-American

Word History

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

African American

noun

variants also African-American

: an American of African and especially Black African descent

African American adjective

also African-American