Akkadian

noun

Ak·​ka·​di·​an ə-ˈkā-dē-ən How to pronounce Akkadian (audio)
1
: an extinct Semitic language of ancient Mesopotamia
2
: a Semitic inhabitant of central Mesopotamia before 2000 b.c.
Akkadian adjective

Examples of Akkadian in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Among these languages are Sumerian and Akkadian, both dating back at least 4,600 years. Lucy Tu, Scientific American, 24 Aug. 2023 The number of existing cuneiform texts is overwhelming compared to the small number of linguists who are able to translate Akkadian. Rachel Shin, Fortune, 5 July 2023 The album is conceptually tied together by an alternative history that imagines what reality would be like today if the drought that preceded the collapse of the Akkadian Empire — the first ancient empire of Mesopotamia, located in modern-day Iraq — never occurred. Katie Bain, Billboard, 9 June 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Akkadian.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Akkad, Babylonia

First Known Use

1856, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Akkadian was in 1856

Dictionary Entries Near Akkadian

Cite this Entry

“Akkadian.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Akkadian. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.

Kids Definition

Akkadian

noun
Ak·​ka·​di·​an ə-ˈkād-ē-ən How to pronounce Akkadian (audio)
1
: an extinct Semitic language of ancient Mesopotamia
2
: a member of a Semitic people living in Mesopotamia before 2000 b.c.
Akkadian adjective
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