1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of France, its people, or their language
2
: of or relating to the overseas descendants of the French people
Frenchness
noun
1
plural in construction
: the French people
2
: a Romance language that developed out of the Vulgar Latin spoken in northern and central Transalpine Gaul and that became the literary and official language of France
3
: strong language
pardon my French
frenched; frenching; frenches
often capitalized
1
: to trim the meat from the end of the bone of (something, such as a chop)
2
: to cut (green beans) in thin lengthwise strips before cooking
Examples of French in a Sentence
Noun
the customs of the French
Recent Examples on the Web
Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2025
In 1926, Josephine Baker was approached by French journalist Marcel Sauvage about writing a memoir.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025
Elsewhere, beauty this week was equal parts femme and freaky: nail art was sculptural, flipped and reversed, hair was piled high to make a poncy French monarch proud, and conceptual makeup took inspo from nature’s most ornate creatures.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2025
Home Tour In his Paris home and beyond, the interior decorator evokes French style while embracing effortless eclecticism
Photography by Matthieu Salvaing
February 1, 2025
All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors.
—Fanny Guénon Des Mesnards, Architectural Digest, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for French 
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Adjective
But that said, this is a gorgeous restaurant in many senses: The room is midcentury-modern effervescence, the staff brims with engaged pros, and Namba’s cooking grafts Japanese and French flavors in smart, fresh ways.
—Bill Addison, Los Angeles Times, 1 Feb. 2025
In 1926, Josephine Baker was approached by French journalist Marcel Sauvage about writing a memoir.
—Carly Tagen-Dye, People.com, 1 Feb. 2025
Elsewhere, beauty this week was equal parts femme and freaky: nail art was sculptural, flipped and reversed, hair was piled high to make a poncy French monarch proud, and conceptual makeup took inspo from nature’s most ornate creatures.
—Anna Cafolla, Vogue, 1 Feb. 2025
Home Tour In his Paris home and beyond, the interior decorator evokes French style while embracing effortless eclecticism
Photography by Matthieu Salvaing
February 1, 2025
All products featured on Architectural Digest are independently selected by our editors.
—Fanny Guénon Des Mesnards, Architectural Digest, 1 Feb. 2025
See all Example Sentences for French
Dictionary Entries Near French
Cite this Entry
“French.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/French. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
French
1 of 2 adjective
: of or relating to France, its people, or their language
French
2 of 2 noun1
: the Romance language of the French
2
French plural
: the people of France
Medical Definition
French
noun
plural French
: a unit of measure equal to one-third millimeter used in measuring the outside diameter of a tubular instrument (as a catheter or sound) inserted into a bodily cavity
the catheter shaft size is three French—Medical Industry Today
—abbreviation F
Medical Industry TodayBiographical Definition
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