European

1 of 2

adjective

Eu·​ro·​pe·​an ˌyu̇r-ə-ˈpē-ən 

-ˈpēn

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Europe or its people

Europeanness noun

European

2 of 2

noun

1

: a native or inhabitant of Europe

2

: a person of European descent

Examples of European in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Alan Walker, the Norwegian D.J. and producer has just announced a seventeen stop North American tour, and a fourteen city European tour. —Eric Fuller, Forbes, 23 Sep. 2024

With the outlook for travel weakening as consumers pull back on spending, short sellers are betting that one budget airline will fare worse than its European peers. —Lindsey Leake, Fortune Europe, 23 Sep. 2024

Noun

The European Union's gross domestic product is expected to grow by 1% in 2024, which marks a slowdown from previous years, the European Commission said in May. —Max Zahn, ABC News, 24 Sep. 2024

Isabella Rossellini will be honoured during the upcoming European Film Awards with a lifetime achievement award celebrating her body of work as an actor and filmmaker. —Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 24 Sep. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1555, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing European

• European American
• European bison
• European chafer
• European corn borer
• European flat
• European flat oyster
• European hornet
• European mountain ash
• European oyster
• European plan
• European red mite
• Indo-European
• Indo-European languages
• non-European
• non-Indo-European
• smaller European elm bark beetle
• un-European

Kids Definition

European

1 of 2 adjective

Eu·​ro·​pe·​an ˌyu̇r-ə-ˈpē-ən 

: of or relating to Europe or its people

European

2 of 2 noun

1

: a person born or living in Europe

2

: a person of European ancestry