1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Russia
b
: a member of the dominant Slavic-speaking ethnic group of Russia
c
: a person of Russian descent
2
: a Slavic language of the Russian people spoken as a second language by many non-Russian ethnic groups of the Soviet Union and its successor states
Russian
adjective
Examples of Russian in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That February, when COVID-19 restrictions prompted an evacuation of the Russian Embassy in Pyongyang, Russian diplomats were seen pushing a rail cart in a desperate dash for the border.
—
Sergey Radchenko, NPR, 19 June 2024
In 2023 Russia suspended participation in the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START), the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty limiting Russian and US strategic nuclear forces, while in response the US also stopped sharing data.
—Radina Gigova, CNN, 18 June 2024
Really Good Boxed Wine 2022 Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley has a bouquet of grapefruit, guava, and freshly chopped parsley.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 23 June 2024
The attack in Derbent, a city on the Caspian Sea, unfolded around 6 p.m. local time, when multiple gunmen unleashed a barrage of automatic weapons on a synagogue and an Orthodox church and set fire to both houses of worship, according to the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 23 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for Russian 
Sergey Radchenko, NPR, 19 June 2024
In 2023 Russia suspended participation in the Treaty on Measures for the Further Reduction and Limitation of Strategic Offensive Arms (New START), the last remaining nuclear arms control treaty limiting Russian and US strategic nuclear forces, while in response the US also stopped sharing data.
—Radina Gigova, CNN, 18 June 2024
Really Good Boxed Wine 2022 Sauvignon Blanc from the Russian River Valley has a bouquet of grapefruit, guava, and freshly chopped parsley.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 23 June 2024
The attack in Derbent, a city on the Caspian Sea, unfolded around 6 p.m. local time, when multiple gunmen unleashed a barrage of automatic weapons on a synagogue and an Orthodox church and set fire to both houses of worship, according to the Russian National Anti-Terrorism Committee.
—Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 23 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for Russian
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Russian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near Russian
Cite this Entry
“Russian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Russian. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
Russian
noun
Rus·sian
ˈrəsh-ən 
1
: a person born or living in Russia
2
: a Slavic language of the Russian people
Russian
adjective
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