Khmer

noun

kə-ˈmer 

plural Khmer or Khmers

1

: a member of an aboriginal people of Cambodia

2

: the Mon-Khmer language of the Khmer people that is the official language of Cambodia

Khmer adjective

Examples of Khmer in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Angkor Thom was one of the largest cities in the pre-modern world and the last capital of the Khmer Empire, a Hindu-Buddhist power that ruled in Southeast Asia from around 802 to 1431 C.E. and at its peak controlled much of modern-day Cambodia, Thailand, Laos and southern Vietnam. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 Nov. 2024

Researchers confirmed the statues were found buried near the north gate of Angkor Thom, the 11th-century capital of the Khmer Empire. —Nina Turner, Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2024

The online application is available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Japanese, Khmer, Korean, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese. —Staff, USA TODAY, 18 Oct. 2024

She was born five years after the Khmer Rouge regime ended in 1979. —Shamilee Vellu, Travel + Leisure, 2 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

northern or western dialect Khmer khmε:r, a self-designation (standard Khmer khmaε)

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing Khmer

• Mon-Khmer

Kids Definition

Khmer

noun

kə-ˈme(ə)r 

: a member of an aboriginal people of Cambodia