Italian

1 of 2

noun

Ital·​ian ə-ˈtal-yən How to pronounce Italian (audio)
i-,
also
ˌī- How to pronounce Italian (audio)
1
a
: a native or inhabitant of Italy
b
: a person of Italian descent
2
: the Romance language of the Italians

Italian

2 of 2

adjective

: of, relating to, or characteristic of Italy, the Italians, or Italian

Examples of Italian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Noun
Videos shared to social media showed the aircraft being escorted by Italian Air Force jets prior to landing. Mark Joseph, Newsweek, 24 Feb. 2025 Photos showed two Italian Air Force fighter jets escorting the Boeing 787 Dreamliner into Rome’s international airport. Joseph Wilkinson, New York Daily News, 23 Feb. 2025
Adjective
Matthieu Blazy, Bottega Veneta’s creative director since 2021, announced his departure from the Italian label in December. Hannah Malach, WWD, 11 Feb. 2025 Indeed, Trump introduced some against European products including Italian cheese and French wine during his first administration. Willem Marx, NPR, 11 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for Italian

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Italian was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Italian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Italian. Accessed 27 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

Italian

noun
Ital·​ian
ə-ˈtal-yən,
i-
1
a
: a person born or living in Italy
b
: a person of Italian ancestry
2
: the Romance language of the Italians
Italian adjective
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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